Unsolved marine enigma lingers off California shore: Whereabouts of vanished ship's captain remains unknown.
Joel Kawahara, a seasoned fisherman and passionate advocate for fish conservation, has gone missing off the coast of Northern California. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that there was no one on board the Karolee, the boat he was using, when it was found on August 13.
Kawahara was a board member of the Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition, president of the Coastal Trollers Association, and a member of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. His disappearance has left a profound impact on the fishing community and conservationists alike.
Fishing gear was set up on the deck of the Karolee, and a half-drunk cup of coffee and unfinished oatmeal were found. Kawahara's life jacket was found hanging in the boat, suggesting a sudden and unexpected incident.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier described the case as strange, as there were no signs of distress or debris. The Coast Guard searched hundreds of miles for Kawahara without finding any signs of distress. Fishing alone at sea is a common practice among experienced fishermen, according to Coast Guard Commander Brown.
Kawahara's last reported contact was on August 8. The last message he sent was to someone else fishing in the same region. According to Commander Brown, Kawahara reported a whale coming close to his boat on that day. Friends and family suspect a "freak occurrence" may have tossed him overboard somewhere out at sea.
The reason and the exact time when the Karolee was launched by Kawahara are unknown. The boat was towed to Eureka and docked in Humboldt Bay on August 13. Friends and family plan to hold memorials for Kawahara in Quilcine and Seattle.
Meanwhile, a 13-year-old named Julian Her made headlines by catching a 63.7-pound white sea bass while fishing in Tomales Bay, about 30 miles southwest of Santa Rosa. The fishing community is hopeful that Kawahara's case will receive the attention it deserves, and that answers will be found soon.
In a separate incident, Juan Heredia, a scuba instructor from Stockton, has found the bodies of a dozen drowning victims in California rivers. His unique ability to locate submerged bodies has saved many lives and brought closure to grieving families.
