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Fishermen not willing to risk going out on Arthur's whipped up seas

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — As Tropical Storm Arthur moved past the northeast Florida coastline, off shore became off limits for Capt. Bill Kerr, of St. Augustine Fishing Charters. 

"You don't want to be out in that," he told Action News as he took our crew to the St. Augustine inlet Wednesday for a firsthand look at the dangerous conditions that are forcing most boaters to stay docked. The Coast Guard is warning them to stay in-shore if they dare get on the water at all.  

For nearly an hour we endured the impact of 30 mph wind gusts combined with 6-foot seas. 

"Right here it's 5-6 feet and the further you go off shore it just gets rougher. This is no place for any inexperienced boater and there's no point in being there really at all."

The brunt of every powerful wave soon forced us to turn around.  The risk will remain through Thursday and it's a risk Kerr won't be taking again. 

"It could be life-threatening if you have engine trouble and need emergency assistance. Then you're putting them at risk, too. People with any common sense wouldn't leave the dock until this clears. We'll get back to fishing on Friday," Kerr said.