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.
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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.
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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.
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