Unidentified vessel lurks near California shore, with the enigma of the vanished captain shrouded in mystery.

Professional Fisherman Joel Kawahara Goes Missing Off the Coast of Northern California

Joel Kawahara, a well-respected fisherman and advocate for fish conservation, has gone missing off the coast of Northern California. The Coast Guard found Kawahara's boat, the Karolee, without him on board on August 12.

According to reports, Kawahara was last heard from on August 8, when he sent a text message about a whale coming close to his boat. Since then, attempts to reach him via text or satellite phone have been unsuccessful. On August 11, it was confirmed that Kawahara could not be reached, four days since his friend Burns had heard from him.

Friends and colleagues found the steady course of the Karolee alarming. Upon searching the boat, the Coast Guard found no signs of distress or debris. Kawahara's fishing gear was set up on the deck, and a half-drunk cup of coffee and unfinished oatmeal were found, suggesting that he may have abandoned the boat in a hurry. Kawahara's life jacket was found hanging in the boat.

Kawahara's planned fishing route was from tuna near Oregon to salmon fishing, but he never stopped to fish for salmon. Friends suspect a "freak occurrence" may have tossed him overboard. The Coast Guard made several attempts to contact the Karolee via radio calls and asked other ships and boats in the area to do the same, but no one received an answer.

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. He was a passionate advocate for fish and conservancy, and his disappearance has left a void in the fishing community.

Friends and family plan to hold memorials for Kawahara in Quilcine and Seattle at some point. Burns was taking care of Kawahara's home and cats in Quilcene, Washington, while he was fishing. The police department or a specialized missing persons unit is likely to be tasked with investigating the disappearance of Joel Kawahara.

In a tragic twist, a 13-year-old boy, Julian Her, caught a potential record-setting 63.7-pound white sea bass in Tomales Bay, about 30 miles southwest of Santa Rosa, on the same day that Kawahara went missing. Meanwhile, scuba instructor Juan Heredia from Stockton has found the bodies of a dozen drowning victims in California rivers.

Fishing alone out at sea is a common practice, especially among experienced fishermen, but it is not recommended. The Coast Guard crew on August 12 made visual contact with the Karolee, but no signs of distress were found. The search for Kawahara continues.

Unidentified vessel lurks near California shore, with the enigma of the vanished captain shrouded in mystery.