Boat returns to shore

JOHN'S PASS - Crews brought to shore the boat that four men were stranded on over the weekend.

The boat was pulled into the Bay Pines Boat Ramp around 8:40 p.m.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials inspected the boat to see if they could discern any clues from it about what happened over the weekend.

Bringing the boat in was a day-long effort because rough waters made it difficult to bring the boat upright.

Video from SkyFox showed at one point, crews got boat right side up, but instead of staying in place, it flipped over the other direction back upside down.

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Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Merchant Marine Captain's Association headed out into the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday morning in an effort to retrieve the boat.

The group left John's Pass just after 7 a.m.. They went to the area where Nick Schuyler was found, using coordinates from the beacon the Coast Guard placed on the boat.

Boat owner Captain Steve Papen of Fintastic Charters said he wanted to do what he could for the families of the missing boaters.

"I sympathize with all the families, everybody involved," Papin told FOX 13. "We all do. And we just want to do something that can help out. If we can do anything to make their life a little easier, it's good."

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The Coast Guard called off its search for the Oakland Raiders linebacker, Detroit Lions free-agent defensive end Corey Smith, and former USF player Will Bleakley at sunset Tuesday.

Crews combed more than 24,000 miles in the Gulf during 50 missions on the water and in the air since Sunday.

Schuyler was found alive, clinging to the hull of the 21-foot-boat Monday . Schuyler told investigators the boat capsized in rough weather some time on Saturday afternoon and everyone scrambled to put on life jackets.

Schuyler was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where his condition was upgraded to good Wednesday.