Search Suspended for Missing Fisherman Off Egmont Key

The Coast Guard called off its search Thursday evening for missing fisherman Gary Ketlehut of Madeira Beach.

BayNews9 reports that Ketlehut, 53, was a commercial fisherman for Fishbusterz and was aboard one of its vessels when he disappeared overnight as the rest of the crew slept.

Ketlehut was last seen wearing tan shorts with no lifejacket. The incident is under investigation. 

Search and rescue crews searched for 55 hours, covering more than 2,150 square miles.  

“Our goal is for a positive outcome and we want to bring the missing home, so it's always difficult when we have to suspend the search,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Josuah Chears-Stevens, a search and rescue coordinator at the sector. 

Ketlehut was last seen on board the No Bull, a 42-foot fishing boat, No Bull, which was northwest of Egmont Key.

Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a relayed distress call from 7th Coast Guard District watchstanders at 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, reporting that he was not on the vessel when the crew awoke at 6 a.m. 

The crew of the No Bull stopped fishing at midnight Wednesday, and Ketlehut was last seen sleeping on the bow.  

Sector watchstanders launched  an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Clearwater. 

Coast Guard Cutter Hawk, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, was diverted to assist in the search as well.

Anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of Kettlehut is asked to contact Coast Guard watchstanders at 727-824-7506.

Additional coverage of missing boater

Search Continues for Missing Madeira Beach Fisherman