Fisherman Vanishes and Only Sign Was the Boat He Left Behind

The U.S. Coast Guard announced it has suspended a search for a missing fisherman off the Pacific northwestern coast after officials recovered the man’s empty fishing vessel earlier this month.

The search was called off around 1:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, August 13, after crews searched for more than 18 hours, covering an area of 2,100 square miles, the agency said in a news release.

“Suspending a search for someone is the toughest decision we make in the Coast Guard,” Cmdr. Chelsey Stroud, search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard’s Northwest District, said in a statement.

“Our crews diligently search hundreds of miles. We are grateful for the numerous Coast Guard crews along the West Coast who assisted in this search,” Stroud continued. “We send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the missing man.”

On social media, the Oregon Albacore Commission identified the fisherman as 70-year-old Joel Kawahara from Quilcene, Washington.

“Joel was a valued member of the broader West Coast fishing community and a tireless advocate for fishermen,” a commission spokesperson wrote. “Joel was known for his kindness, generosity, and the way he touched everyone he met. He was deeply respected among salmon fishermen and also shared time on the albacore grounds. His passing is felt deeply by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

The Coast Guard said he departed alone on his fishing boat, the Karolee, a week prior and was last heard from around 7:30 a.m. local time on Friday, August 8. The vessel could be tracked via its automatic identification system and was traveling south at about four knots for a few days.

“Coast Guard watchstanders made numerous call outs to the Karolee and asked mariners in the area to do the same,” the agency said in a statement. “No communication was ever received from the Karolee.”

On the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 12, a Coast Guard aircrew from Air Station Sacramento attempted to make contact with the boat but “nothing was heard.”

“The aircrew visually noticed that the vessel was rigged for fishing, lights were energized, and a life raft was observed in its cradle,” a Coast Guard spokesperson said. “The aircrew flew over the vessel’s previous course but did not find any signs of distress. The crew then flew back to Sacramento.”

The agency dispatched additional resources and a crew searched the trackline where the boat traveled off the Washington and Oregon coastline to search for any indication of trouble.

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The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion was sent to intercept the Karolee to confirm whether anyone was onboard, meeting the boat around 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Aug. 13. They boarded, found no one else present and noticed that all safety equipment was still onboard.

“With no additional reports of distress or responses to callouts, the Coast Guard suspended the search,” the agency announced in the news release.

The Sea Lion crew towed the Karolee to Eureka, Calif., where it was moored as of Thursday, Aug. 14.

“Joel left this world doing what he loved — fishing — and his spirit will continue to inspire those of us who work on the water,” an Oregon Albacore Commission spokesperson wrote. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the many who called him a friend.”