ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — The discovery of a fishing boat without its captain off the shores of Hanna Park has turned into a full investigation and search by the Coast Guard and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
The 28-foot boat, engines running, ran aground at Hanna Park Sunday afternoon.
Several Action News viewers took photos of the boat as it came ashore.
Sarah Richards told Action News she was standing on the beach with her nephew when the boat appeared out of nowhere.
Richards said a man boarded the boat to turn off the engine.
The man said he found a bag, a cooler and cell phones on the boat, but no one was on board. He called police who showed up around 5:40 p.m.
The officers looked for the boat tag to identify the owner and send an officer to his house.
Police said at an 8:30 news conference the boat belonged to 57-year-old Peter Rodrigues of Atlantic Beach.
Police said Rodrigues left his home at 10:30 a.m. and last made contact with his family around 1 p.m.
The Coast Guard brought in an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Clearwater, and a 45-foot response boat and 87-foot Cutter Diamondback patrol boat from Mayport to assist in the search.
The search will continue through the night.
WJAX
