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Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Community / Emergency

UPDATE: Coast Guard: Active Search for Missing Father, Son Suspended

Posted By Kimberly Wear @kimberly_wear on Wed, Apr 27, 2022 at 8:33 PM

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Scott Arbaugh, 70, of Eureka, and his son Josh Arbaugh, 50, are missing. - HCSO FACEBOOK

HCSO Facebook
Scott Arbaugh, 70, of Eureka, and his son Josh Arbaugh, 50, are missing.

UPDATE:

The Coast Guard reported Wednesday night that the active search for a father and son who went missing Tuesday after launching a 16-foot fishing boat into Humboldt Bay has been suspended.

“Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews, Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay 29-foot Response Boat-Small crews and Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-27 Spartan aircrews, with assistance from Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Eureka Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other good Samaritans searched," the release states.
“Cumulatively, crews searched 247 square miles over 54 hours with no signs of the missing men.”

Their partially submerged boat was found around midnight but there was no sign of Scott Arbaugh, 68 and his 49-year-old son Josh Arbaugh.

"It’s always a difficult decision to suspend a search when we could not locate the missing mariners. There comes a time when we have saturated the search areas and there’s simply nothing more we can do but hope that new evidence will turn up in the future. Our deepest condolences go out to the Arbaugh family and the community in this trying time, and our appreciation to all our professional partners that supported the search effort," Joe Matthews, acting Sector Commander, said in a Facebook post.

PREVIOUSLY:

Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and Humboldt Bay Fire are continuing the search for a father and son who went missing Tuesday after launching a boat into Humboldt Bay.

The 16-foot boat that Scott Arbaugh, 68, of Eureka, and his son Josh Arbaugh, 49, of Arcata, set off on Tuesday morning from Fields Landing was found partially submerged about a half mile mile east of King Salmon shortly after midnight by Coast Guard crews, according to a HCSO Facebook post. There was no sign of the men.

"Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter aircrews, 29’ RBS-II boat crews, and HCSO personnel are actively searching," the post states. "Anyone with information is requested to contact the Coast Guard command center at 707-839-6113 or the Sheriff’s Office immediately."

The Humboldt Bay Fire dive team was heading to King Salmon this morning to conduct a sonar-based search and “is prepared to dive during the slack tide estimated for 4 p.m. today should the need still be in place.”

“All of us at Humboldt Bay Fire are hoping for the safe location of these community members and protection for all the personnel involved in this search and rescue,” the agency’s Facebook post states.

Read the Coast Guard release below:

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — The Coast Guard suspended its active search for two overdue boaters near Humboldt Bay, Wednesday evening. Missing is 68-year-old Scott Arbaugh and his son, 49-year-old Josh Arbaugh.

Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews, Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay 29-foot Response Boat-Small crews and Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-27 Spartan aircrews, with assistance from Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Eureka Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other good Samaritans searched. Cumulatively, crews searched 247 square miles over 54 hours with no signs of the missing men.

Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay command center watchstanders were notified at 8:48 p.m. Tuesday by the missing men’s family, reporting that the two men had launched their 16-foot boat late Tuesday morning from Fields Landing to test their motor. Watchstanders directed the launch of the Air Station Humboldt Bay helicopter crew and Station Humboldt Bay boat crew at 8:50 p.m.

At 11:52 p.m. the helicopter crew located the missing boat, partially submerged approximately half a mile northeast of King Salmon with no signs of occupants.

The Coast Guard crews, Humboldt Bay Sheriff’s Office, Department of Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt Bay Fire continued their search through Wednesday. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Read the HCSO Facebook posts below:

UPDATE: BOAT FOUND, TWO MEN STILL MISSING - Shortly after midnight, Coast Guard crews located the missing vessel partially submerged approximately half a mile north east of King Salmon. No sign of the occupants has been found.

COAST GUARD SEARCHING FOR MISSING FISHERMEN- USCG aircrews, boat crews, and HCSO personnel are searching for two men who went fishing in Humboldt Bay Tuesday and have not returned. Shortly after midnight this morning, Coast Guard crews located the missing vessel partially submerged approximately half a mile north east of King Salmon. No sign of the occupants has been found. Scott Arbaugh, 70, of Eureka, and his son Josh Arbaugh, 50, of Arcata, are believed to have launched their 16 foot jon boat late Tuesday morning from Fields Landing to go fishing and were reported missing earlier this evening. Family have not heard from them since. Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter aircrews, 29’ RBS-II boat crews, and HCSO personnel are actively searching. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Coast Guard command center at 707-839-6113 or the Sheriff’s Office immediately.