The Coast Guard and Navy have launched an extensive search for three commercial fishermen who have been missing for 11 days after setting sail near Georgia. The captain of the fishing vessel, Dalton Conway, along with crew members Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow, departed from the port city of Brunswick on October 14. Concerns grew when they failed to return as scheduled, prompting the ship’s owner to contact the Coast Guard.
The families of the missing fishermen remain hopeful, with one family member stating, “We firmly believe that God has got them and they’re just out there floating and drifting.” Despite initial plans to call off the search, the Coast Guard extended their efforts after receiving additional resources from the Navy.
The owner of the fishing vessel revealed that the crew often extends fishing trips to maximize their catch, but the lack of communication for six days raised concerns. The search area has expanded to cover over 32,000 square miles, involving aircraft from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and boat crews from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Family members described Conway as an experienced boat captain who has made numerous successful trips to catch fish for local businesses. The worrying aspect is that no one has heard from the fishermen since their departure, except for a reported sighting by people on another boat.
Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jason Erickson mentioned that the boat is equipped with an electronic distress beacon, which has not been activated. This gives hope that the fishermen may still be safe.
The search for these missing fishermen continues, with their loved ones anxiously waiting for their safe return.
