Pillar Point Boat Likely Found, But Man Still Missing

Updated 11:30 a.m.

The U.S. Coast Guard believes they have found the boat of the missing San Ramon crab fisherman, Shau Tsu Wong, near Pigeon Point, but no one was on board, Coast Guard Officer Mark Leahey said.

The boat, matching the description of Wong's, was discovered by the Coast Guard at around 10:30 a.m. The Coast Guard is still trying to confirm that the boat is indeed Wong's.

The Coast Guard is sending a rescue swimmer to the area to aid in the search. 

The Coast Guard was first alerted of the situation from a call at 11:56 p.m. Thursday from Wong's son. The 64-year-old missing man departed from the harbor near Half Moon Bay on Wednesday, Coast Gaurd Officer Pamela Boehland said.

Wong's son said that his father did not usually take night trips on his boat, a white 18-foot vessel with a red stripe on it and two outboard engines. Wong's truck and trailer were found at Pillar Harbor.

"Conditions on the water have been pretty nice the last couple days," Coast Gaurd Officer Mark Leahey said. "We're not sure what happened."

The Coast Guard launched a helicopter from its San Francisco station shortly before midnight but did not find the boat or Wong. The helicopter crew returned to the station and then launched again at sunrise today, according to Boehland.

Two boats from the Coast Guard, including an 87-foot patrol boat and a lifeboat, are also searching for the missing vessel. This morning, a boat from the Coast Gaurd's Monteray Station joined the search. Crews are also doing an auxiliary shoreside search.

The search is stretching from Half Moon Bay to Pigeon Point, about 30 miles south from where Wong is thought to have launched his boat.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Wong or the boat is
asked to call the Coast Guard at (415) 399-3530.

-- Bay City News contributed to this report

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