Hawaii Island police have launched a missing person investigation after a 63-year-old man went overboard while fishing on a boat off Honaunau on Sunday morning.
The missing man, identified as Mark Knittle of Captain Cook, is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 185 pounds, with curly brown hair with a white mustache and beard.
Knittle and a friend were fishing near the “C” buoy, 4 miles outside of the Honaunau Boat Ramp, around 5 a.m. when Knittle reportedly hooked an ahi. The friend, police said, heard Knittle say, “the fish is huge,” then saw Knittle go overboard into the water.
The friend attempted to grab the line but was unsuccessful. Knittle was seen on the surface and disappeared within seconds. The friend attempted to jump in after Knittle but could not see him anywhere.
Hawaii Fire Department and the Coast Guard personnel were called out and are conducting a continuous search for the next 72 hours.
Anyone with information regarding this incident. should call the police department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or email Officer Melani Cline at melani.cline@hawaiicounty.gov.