Launched in Hopewell and fished lower James late this afternoon. Saw storms far off in Richmond but I was way down below Jordon Point. Called to have someone check the Radar and it looked like what I was seeing was going to miss me. So I was hanging in there. Then I saw lightening getting closer. I packed up, swapped out my inflatable vest for my old "real" vest, and headed back towards Hopewell. The river was getting rough, but I have seen it that bad many times before. Just incase, I called Brian D while running and hollard to him that I was East of Jordan Point trying to get back, it was bad.. The closer I got to Hopewell the worse it was. When I got about 1 mile east of Jordon Point all hell broke loose. Appeared some other storm snuck up from the Prince George Area that I had not even noticed. There was not really white caps, it was more like 4 foot waves, just huge swells! I hear people talk about big waves, but these things where honestly like 4+ foot tall. Imagine the largest swell from a 40 foot cruiser running that perfect speed to toss up a big wake..we have all seen it. Well, these were a bit bigger, one after another, left to right, front to rear, etc....I was not able to run on plane...impossible! I could not even run at a fast idle. Front of my boat was going straight up...really straight the hell up! I was trying to navigate best I could as wind blown rain moved in. At one point my boat sort of got stuck in between 2 waves, with the rear down, and the front up on the top of a wave...I sort of about stopped for a second, I looked back and the water was coming over my back deck. I had my motor trimmed down, so at this point it appeared about 1/2 under water. I was giving it gas, but I was not moving, I hit my bilge (nothing!) I have sunk a jet ski before, and it felt the exact same...I thought I had cracked my boat and was sinking...I thought this was it! I grabbbed my phone from my pocket incase I was going down and nailed the gas...my 18' Cat finally rocketed out of the hole I was in. I continued to mess with the bilge...nothing. I bobbed to Ben Harrision Bridge and she was still floating and running ok....I considered heading to Jordaon Point, but the waves were huge, no way to tie up in that mess. I could see the water was calmer ahead towards all the Hopewell Plants, and the brief rain was behind me ....so I continued on. About half way between the bridge and the App River, I was finally able to run slowly on plane again, made the turn towards Rt10 and nailed it! At Rt 10 things were quiet and peaceful. Checked the back compartment of the boat...maybe 1 inch of water, im thinking not enough for the bilge to even work. I know someone on here lives in Jordon on the James, so I know they experienced it right around 8pm. Thankful...very thankful. Now just need to go get some new underware!