The search for a missing California fisherman came to a tragic end this week. Mikey Rijavec, a San Diego–based angler with a large following on social media, went missing on Nov. 11 while fishing alone off the coast of Southern California. That led to a massive rescue effort that included both U.S. and Mexican authorities.
But the search ended when Rijavec’s body was found in the water this week near San Cristobal, Mexico, according to an update on a GoFundMe page raising money for the search efforts.
Gregory Rijavec, Mikey’s brother, wrote on Nov. 16 that the “countless people involved in the search for Mikey to finally rest and begin to find peace.” Even now, the circumstances that led to Mikey’s death are not fully clear.
“As difficult as it is to accept this, we are grateful that it provides us some closure,” Gregory wrote. “As we begin to process and reflect on what has happened over the last several days, it is clear what was at the core of the search for Mikey: love. Everyone poured everything into finding Mikey, because whether they knew him or not, they knew a son, a brother, a friend, a fisherman, a fellow human needed help. Everyone has been extremely selfless during this time, and selflessness is one of the greatest acts of love.”
A Massive Search
Authorities knew very quickly that something had likely gone wrong during Mikey’s fishing trip. He was about 8 miles off the California coast in a Solo Skiff when he issued a mayday call about 3 p.m. on Nov. 11, according to his brother. Fellow anglers were on the radio trying to help Mikey with some engine trouble when the call suddenly ended, NBC San Diego reported.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican Navy both participated in search efforts, using a combination of boats and aircraft. Even many local fishermen got involved. The day the search began, Mikey’s 14-foot boat was recovered 5 miles off the coast, but searchers found neither Mikey nor the skiff’s engine.
The GoFundMe page started by Gregory raised more than $40,000 to cover the cost of gas and pilots: “Good vibes to Mikey and stay positive!” Gregory wrote for the initial fundraising campaign. On Thursday, it was still unclear who actually found Mikey’s body.
Mikey had cultivated a large following on social media, especially on his YouTube channel SD Fish and Sips, where he had racked up 21,000 subscribers and more than 4.5 million views of his fishing videos.
GearJunkie reached out to Gregory for additional information about Mikey, but didn’t hear back as of this writing.
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16 Comments
A heartbreaking story. Grateful for the selflessness of those who helped search, even if it couldn’t change the outcome.
Tragic news. Can’t help but wonder if there was more that could have been done to prevent this. So many questions remain.
The GoFundMe updates show how much this meant to so many. It’s incredible how quickly a community can come together in times like these.
The search efforts sounded exhaustive. It’s a shame it ended this way, but I’m glad his family has some closure now.
A sobering reminder of the risks that come with solo fishing. Rest in peace, Mikey. My heart goes out to his loved ones.
Fishing can be deceptively dangerous. My thoughts are with Mikey’s family—their message was so touching.
The outpouring of support in the comments and donations shows just how well-loved Mikey was. So tragic that it ended this way.
A sad ending to what should have been a routine fishing trip. The outpouring of support from the community was truly heartwarming.
When the ocean calls, it’s a powerful force. Rest in peace, Mikey. My condolences to his family and friends.
No parent wants to hear that their child has died, especially in such an unexpected way. Wishing Mikey’s family strength and peace.
Sad to see someone with so much to look forward to gone too soon. Hope the family finds some comfort in knowing how much people cared.
Hate to see it. Wishing Mikey’s family strength as they navigate this loss. So glad the search efforts involved so many people showing care.
The kindness of strangers during emergencies always stands out. Everyone’s willingness to help reflects the best of humanity.
It’s always tragic when someone loses their life, especially in such uncertain circumstances. My thoughts go out to Mikey’s family during this difficult time.
What a shame. The brother’s words about the search being driven by love really resonate. It’s comforting to know so many people rallied together in his memory.
The brother’s update was so poignant. Love and support from strangers in times of tragedy can mean everything.