The U.S. Coast Guard is calling “fake,” or at least casting major doubt on the harrowing tale of survival by two Hawaii women who say they were lost at sea for months.

After collecting an ever growing list of “inconsistencies,” the Coast Guard now says Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava‘s story may be nothing more than a big fat fish tale. One of the Coast Guard’s concerns is the fact the women never activated their emergency beacon. Other concerns include several key elements of the women’s account that are directly contradicted by weather reports and “basic geography of the Pacific Ocean,” the Coast Guard said.

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Appel and Fuiava told The AP that they chose not to use the beacon because they never felt they were in imminent danger, however, the Coast Guard is casting major doubt on that senario.

Previously, the sailors had said they were close to “giving up” when they were rescued by U.S. Navy last week, thousands of miles off course. The women appeared in good condition considering being adrift at sea for months. The pair told reporters they distilled water and brought enough rations to last the several months at sea. source

The U.S. Navy took the two women to Japan where they met with officials and reporters.

O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to get lost at sea!