The search for three men who didn’t return Sunday from a North Shore fishing trip continued after their overturned boat was spotted Monday afternoon.
Jensen Loo, Clint
Oshima and boat owner Derek Tomas left Haleiwa Boat Harbor about 5:45 a.m. Sunday and planned to return by 5 p.m., according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A friend reported them missing at about 8:20 p.m.
Their boat — the 20-foot vessel Iwa — was found by Coast Guard search and rescue crews about 25 miles off Haleiwa Boat Harbor. The boat was found upside down.
The Coast Guard said all three men are 30 years old. Loo is owner of Pacific Paramount Fish, a fish supplier, according to the state registry of businesses.
Family and friends gathered at the boat harbor Monday to await word on the search. They described the friends as avid, commercial fishermen.
Friend Tyler Wilcox said they had texted him Sunday morning, saying they had caught an ahi.
“They went out fishing to have a good time,” he said. “Unfortunately, the ocean was a little bit too strong. It got the best of them.”
The Coast Guard said they each had cellphones but no lifesaving equipment and no VHF radio. Friends said the vessel had life preservers.
The boat had been used to land large fish in the past, bringing in four to five 150-pound ahi, friends said.
Coast Guard crews reported 15 to 25 mph wind but good visibility in the search area.
The Coast Guard was planning to assess whether to continue searching into Monday evening.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle said a helicopter, airplane and patrol boat were looking for the men. The Navy and Honolulu firefighters were helping with the search.