Mathew Fisher and his son Adin were on the fishing boat Kutere, along with owner Les Horncastle.
The vessel became stranded on the sandbar and was pounded by waves, but the men managed to set off flares and then evacuate the boat and get into a liferaft.
All three were safe and well yesterday.
``I was down below sleeping at the time when the boat lurched and next minute I was hit by a wave,'' Mr Fisher said.
``I was yelling out for my son [Adin] but it just happened that he was up relieving himself up in the wheelhouse. We were sitting on the sandbar and the boat was leaning right over, I was getting hit by waves but we got the liferaft and got ashore.
``It was dark but the lights were still going on the old girl. We had only five tonnes of fish but I've been fishing on the old girl since I was 18 years old.''
Kutere remained on the Cobden beach and faced another heavy sea yesterday while a decision was made on what to do.
The vessel is owned by former Greymouth fisherman Mr Horncastle. A Talley's spokesman said at this stage there was nothing to say until an official arrived from Christchurch to meet Mr Horncastle and the insurance company.
A Mayday message from Kutere shortly before 1.45am said it was in trouble at the Grey River mouth and drifting north towards the beach.
A short while later a radio message to Maritime NZ/Rescue Co-ordination Centre said it had run aground on the beach.
A Maritime NZ spokesman said the 16.5m fishing vessel was intact and there was no evidence of any oil or fuel spill from the boat.
Police were notified and St John attended briefly and checked the crew, the Maritime NZ spokesman said.
Talleys along with the West Coast Regional Council had been advised.
Maritime NZ would follow up with inquiries into what happened in due course.
Greymouth Coastguard skipper Doug Griffin said it was not called, which he assumed was ``a timing thing''.
``They put the Mayday out and then not long after they said they were safe and well.''
Greymouth police said yesterday morning that apart from them initially responding, Maritime NZ was the lead agency in investigating what happened.
The three crew ``were lucky boys''.
