Morgan Robidou posed next to the bright aluminum hull of his prized new vessel, a 30-foot (9-meter) fishing boat that he could use to take friends, family or tourists out after salmon or halibut in the bountiful waters of southeast Alaska.
FILE - Homes in downtown overlook the harbor, in Sitka, Alaska, on March 26, 2008. Sitka is the home port for a charter fishing boat that sank in late May 2023 in nearby waters killing three and leaving two lost at sea. The tragedy has put a spotlight on the safety of southeast Alaska's vibrant charter fishing industry and on the port town of Sitka, where charter operators charge thousands of dollars per person for guided fishing trips.
Robidou, 32, was working with Kingfisher Charters, which operates a lodge in Sitka, a small port city on Baranof Island with a backdrop of a stunning volcanic mountain. The region is a legendary fishing destination, with myriad inlets, islands, bays and passages that can offer shelter from wind and waves when the open sea is too rough.
When Sunday dawned, their last vacation day before Monday flights home, the women rejoined the boats, which headed to different fishing spots., Brandi Tyau, 56, and Danielle Agcaoili, 53, along with Brandi's partner, Robert Solis, 61, and Danielle's husband, Maury Agcaoili, 57. The sisters were found inside the cabin, and Maury Agcaoili’s body was discovered near the boat. Solis and Robidou have not been found, and the Coast Guard called off its search late Monday after covering 825 square miles in more than 20 hours.
Kingfisher owner Seth Bone has been in the business for at least 40 years and is well-known and reputable, Yamada said.
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