A popular Ocean Beach fisherman and youtuber is missing after his boat was โfound โadrift off the coast of Baja California on Tuesday, prompting a multi-agency search effort.
Mikey โฃRijavec, known for his โฃfishing videos, issued a mayday call approximately eight miles offshore while experiencing engine trouble, according to โฃPhil Friedman,โ a close freind, fellow angler, and podcaster. The call โฃdisconnected abruptly, initiating the search.
The U.S. Coast Guard initiated the search on tuesdayโ before transferring primary responsibility to Mexican authorities. Private boat owners and the Mexican Navyarealsoassisting
Rijavec โขwas โoperating a 14-foot skiff powered by a six-horsepower outboard engine. โฃthe skiff was recovered five miles fromโ the coast, but the engine remains missing.
“He’s an adventurer. โHe pushes the envelope. โฃThat’s part of whatโค we โขlove about him,” Friedman said.
The circumstances surrounding Rijavec’s disappearance remain โunclear.โข “What couldโ have happened? Oh my God,it’s endless. It โคcould be foul โฃplay. You never know, it’s something that happens at โsea sometimes. It could be a whale, it โcould be a shark,” Friedman stated.
Neighbors inโค Ocean Beach expressed concern for Rijavec’s well-being.”The fact that it was washed โashore with the storms down there.โ Baja can be stormy. I don’t know,” said Michael Robinson.
“It’sโค realyโค sad. He’s a really nice guy, and fishing โคis his passion,” added Isabella Atkinson.
Friedmanโ remainsโฃ hopeful, suggesting Rijavec may have reached shore or is โutilizingโ a survival โsuit. “That would be, of course, โฃmy hope. My โคprayers and thoughts are for that โkindโ ofโค a resolution,” he said.
Asโค of Wednesday, the search continues.