Three fishermen missing off Georgia coast: ‘Absolutely terrifying’

Three men who went fishing off the coast of Georgia are missing after their boat failed to return a week ago, according to the US Coast Guard.

Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow embarked on their fishing expedition aboard the 31-foot-long “Carol Ann” on Oct. 14 but failed to return four days later, officials said.

“Coast Guard Sector Charleston watchstanders received a report from the owner of the fishing vessel Carol Anne stating he hired a crew of three people that failed to return on Wednesday as scheduled,” the Coast Guard said in a statement Friday.

“The owner stated the crew extends fishing trips to maximize their catch but was growing concerned due to their last communication with the crew being six days ago,” it added.

Since the trio was reported missing, authorities have been searching for the Carol Ann off the shore of Brunswick, the Coast Guard said.

​“It’s absolutely terrifying. We are sick to our stomachs. Lots of tears and gatherings, getting together to try to uplift each other and stay positive whenever we’re all wanting to fall apart,” said Stevie Conway, Dalton’s sister and Caleb’s girlfriend, to Action News Jax.

This was just another business trip for Dalton and Tyler, who are professional fishermen, but it was Caleb’s first outing, she told the outlet. Dalton was the captain of the vessel.

“They usually like to go out about 70 to 80 miles offshore,” Stevie said. “And then, like I said, travel up towards the North Carolina area to catch more fish up there.”

Someone spotted the men fishing at Triple Ledge about 5 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard told Action News.

Stevie speculated that her brother may have taken the boat farther north.

“It’s not very common for him to do this. Usually, he has communication,” she said. 

The Coast Guard said it has scoured about 20,000 square nautical miles since Friday and is moving toward the Carolinas in search of the men.

“We’re all hoping they’re just drifting off and trying to figure out what to do. We have no idea what’s going on. Honestly, we’re just hoping that they come home,” Caleb’s brother, Cameron Wilkinson, told First Coast News.

“Caleb’s always been very cautious about everything he’s done, and if he wasn’t comfortable with Dalton and going out there, then he wouldn’t have done it in the first place,” Cameron said.

Lt. Cmdr. Jason Erickson of Coast Guard Sector Charleston said it was possible the boat drifted.

“If they were there and came into some trouble, became disabled or something happened there, the drift would eventually take them into the Gulf Stream, which would continue to the northeast at a faster rate,” Erickson told the outlet.

The vessel is equipped with life vests, a satellite and distress beacons, he said..

“We know that the boat had an electronic beacon onboard, which we call an EPIRB, and we know that beacon has not activated. It is supposed to self-activate once it gets submerged in the water, and then it should release and give a position and indicate that there is some kind of distress,” Erickson said.

“We have not received any beacons that have gone off. That’s a reason to be hopeful,” he added.