Fisherman missing off Hernando coastline

Post by **stuart888** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:37 pm

Here is breaking news 5/18, that a friend just emailed over to me, hopefully a good ending will be coming soon.

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A massive search is underway in the Gulf of Mexico after authorities found an abandoned boat in the water near the Pasco County coastline.

The 17-foot white flats boat is registered to Michael Curl, a 50-year-old resident of Hernando Beach, according to Coast Guard spokeswoman Tasha Tully. He is the one presumed missing at this time.

Authorities said two boaters found Curl's vessel at 11:05 a.m. Friday about one nautical mile west of the Pithlachascotee River.

Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are searching by air and water in along the coast from New Port Richey to the Hudson Beach area.

"The search will continue through the evening and into the night," said FWC spokesman Gary Morse.

Preliminary information indicates that Curl left the docks at Hernando Beach on Wednesday or Thursday morning to go fishing, according to conflicting reports from the Coast Guard and FWC. He was never reported missing.

Morse said the keys were in the boat's ignition but the engine was not running because the battery died. Authorities found a cell phone and bait in the boat.

Searchers are operating under the premise that the boat's operator possibly fell overboard.

Post by **stuart888** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:40 pm

Update, it turns out to be a 50 year old guy, out fishing on his own only about 8 miles offshore. He was very experienced, but after three days of looking, no luck. Wow, he must have fell, or something. It appears that good news is unlikely.

Safety first

Post by **allingeneral** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:57 am

hmm..hard to believe that he would just "fall overboard" and not make it back into the boat. I wonder if he had some sort of ailment like a heart attack or something... either way, fishing 8 miles from shore..if he'd had on a life preserver, at least authorities would be more likely to locate him whether he was alive or not. How many of us actually wear life preservers though? The only time I put one on is if I'm water skiing.

Stay safe out there, folks.

sporting-gent · Post by **sporting-gent** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:53 pm

The club I fish in requires a life jacket to be worn so I comply. Even when I am out on my own in my canoe I wear one. If the canoe tips over I am afraid getting back in won't be that easy to do.