On September 12, 2003, James Eugene Decker, 35, of Juneau was aboard a skiff setting shrimp gear in Hoonah Sound near the west end of Peril Strait when the small vessel capsized and sank. Four men were thrown into the cold water; two survivors, identified as Ken Decker Sr. and his son Tim Decker, were located, and one man, Ken Decker Jr., was found deceased. Despite an intensive search and rescue effort, James Decker was not located and the search was eventually suspended.

The Alaska State Troopers opened a case documenting the last known circumstances. With no further signs of him found, James is considered lost to the waters of Hoonah Sound. Few details are available about the timeline of the search or any later developments.

If anyone witnessed the skiff or has information about that day on Hoonah Sound, please share what is known.