The United States Coast Guard and Hawaii firefighters this week continued to search for a fisherman who disappeared after his friend said he hooked a large fish and fell overboard a boat in Hawaii.
Mark Knittle, a Hawaii resident, disappeared early Sunday while fishing off Hōnaunau , Hawaii.
The USCG and Hawaii County Fire Department officials began searching for Knittle after his friend reported him missing.
Here’s what we know so far about the missing person case:
Who is Mark Knittle?
Knittle is 65-year-old and from Captain Cook located in the District of South Kona on the Island of Hawaii.
Police described him as 5 feet 10 inches tall, 185 pounds, with curly brown hair with a white mustache and beard.
He was last seen wearing dark shorts and a dark shirt.
Where did he disappear?
The Hawaii Police Department reported Knittle went overboard early Sunday roughly 4 miles off the coast after he hooked a tuna.
A friend of Knittle’s told police that about 5 a.m. on Sunday the pair were fishing near the “C” buoy, four miles outside of the Hōnaunau Boat Ramp, when Knittle hooked an ahi.
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The friend heard Knittle say, “the fish is huge,” then saw Knittle go overboard into the water.
Knittle was seen on the surface and disappeared within seconds. The friend attempted to jump in after Knittle but could not see him anywhere, police said.
How long will they search?
The Coast Guard was using a cutter and aircraft and firefighters were using a boat to search the waters off Hōnaunau, on the Big Island’s west coast, Deputy Fire Chief Eric Moller told NBC.
Crews said the would search for Knittle until sundown Tuesday.
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Moller told the outlet that if Knittle, was not found, authorities “will determine next steps.”
Neither the Coast Guard or police immediately responded to USA TODAY on Wednesday to say whether the search had resumed.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.