A desperate search is underway for a seasoned fisherman who failed to return from a marlin fishing trip off the Gold Coast. The man, a 44-year-old from Hollywell, was last seen setting out from the Gold Coast Seaway around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. The boat, a black half-cabin pleasure craft, was successfully booked in at the tower but failed to check out by 5 p.m., prompting authorities to alert Water Police around 7 p.m. Water Police conducted searches of the surrounding areas and seaways and attempted to make contact with the vessel over the radio throughout the night. At around 2 a.m. on Friday, a boat was found 25 nautical miles southeast of the seaway with no one onboard. The vessel was in a 'fairly good' condition, though there was some water in the hull, according to Gold Coast Water Police Sergeant Shannon Gray. The missing man is a highly experienced game fisherman, well known in the industry, with extensive marine experience. Police found three life jackets on the vessel and received unconfirmed reports suggesting that there may have been a fourth on board. 'It could be a case that he is wearing a life jacket — we’re unsure — and that’s the best-case scenario, as it will give him a better chance if he is in the water with that life jacket on,' Gray said. The search is expected to continue through the night and into Friday morning, with at least three search-and-rescue helicopters deployed to assist. The man's wallet was found in his car parked nearby, while his phone has not been located. But here's where it gets controversial... The man's family has questioned the authorities' handling of the search, suggesting that more could have been done to locate him sooner. And this is the part most people miss... The boat's GPS data could provide crucial clues about its whereabouts, but it has not yet been analyzed. Will the search yield any new leads? And what could have caused the boat to drift so far from the seaway? The public is invited to share their thoughts and theories in the comments below.
