DMR Marine Patrol Searches for Missing Fisherman BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marine Patrol is searching for a missing fisherman whose boat overturned off Cat Island on Sunday, Nov. 9. One man was rescued by a passing boater. A boater called the U.S. Coast Guard about 3 p.m. Nov. 9 to report an overturned boat. The boater found and rescued a Long Beach man who was floating on a gas can just north of Cat Island. A Louisiana man was reported last seen floating on a white seat cushion. Neither man was wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard called DMR at 4:10 p.m. to aid in the search for the missing man. Also aiding in the search were the Long Beach Fire Department, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol and a Coast Guard helicopter. The rescued man said they were fishing off the island when their 12-foot, green skiff overturned at about 1 p.m. He was floating on the gas can for about two hours before another boater found him. Marine Patrol Officers Mike Yonce and Johnny Ladner responded to the original call. Marine Patrol Officers Bryce Gex, Wade Dominey, Paul Grote and Scott Chatham continued the search. As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, two state Marine Patrol boats with Officers Patrick Levine, Curtis Culpepper and John Grimsley were still searching for the missing boater. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
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