BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The Coast Guard says it is still searching for a missing 31-foot boat and three crew members off the coast of Georgia more than 80 hours after it was scheduled to return to Brunswick.
The Coast Guard confirmed a good Samaritan reported seeing the boat called the Carol Ann anchored with people on board Wednesday, and another person reported a sighting at 4 a.m. Thursday more north off the coast of Brunswick.
In an update Sunday evening, the Coast Guard said it searched more than 20,000 miles off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina since the boat was reported missing.
First Coast News learned that the boat's owner was out on the water all day Sunday searching.
The Coast Guard said the owner of the boat hired the men, but got worried after not hearing from them for several days.
The three men on board, identified as Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow, left from the marina near Mary Ross Park last Saturday but failed to return Wednesday.
Stevie Conway is Wilkinson's partner and her brother Dalton Conway is the boat's captain.
"My brother is a little hardheaded, so he is possibly just kind of staying out a bit longer trying to make sure everyone gets fish not realizing everyone back on shore is really stressing," Stevie Conway said.
The crew planned to go about 80 miles offshore to a popular fishing spot called the Triple Ledge.
Boat Captain Cory Black says he is familiar with the Carol Ann and said the boat was equipped with the safety gear and emergency locators - the inReach Satellite and a Emergency Position-Indicating Radiobeacon needed to stay in communication.
"I know they had an inReach. I don't know if it was on or not. I do know they had an EVIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radiobeacon) and they also had two lifeboats on top of the hard top," Black said. "The EVIRB hasn't been activated, as far we know, which is a good sign because it could mean they could still technically be a float."
Conway says she is hoping for her brother and partner's safe return.
"We want these boys back asap and safe and out of harm's way," Conway said.
If you have spotted the boat or the three men on board, you are urged to contact the Coast Guard at 843-740-7050.