Fishermen missing after boat overturned on rocky Southern California shoreline

With dangerous weather conditions along Southern California waters, first responders have scaled back a search for two fishermen whose boat was discovered overturned on the rocky shoreline along Palos Verdes Estates.  

The fishermen, only described as two men in their 50s, launched from Cabrillo Beach Monday and were supposed to return by midnight.  

Crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department launched an extensive search after they were reported missing, deploying drones, rescue boats and helicopters.  

Two beachcombers who were out collecting shells along the Paseo Del Mar shoreline, Finley Murphy and Olivia Mozian, happened to see the wreckage. 

“The [boat] was completely overturned,” Murphy told KTLA’s Gene Kang. “There were holes in the hull and stuff scattered across the beach, a couple of life jackets, a propeller, coolers and kids’ life vests.”  

L.A. County Fire Ocean Lifeguard Specialist Jake Miller told KTLA search and rescue crews have been working in challenging conditions.  

“We pretty much saturated everything from the cliff all the way out into the ocean as best we could with nothing found,” he explained.  

As high tide, thick fog and a marine layer rolled in making the search even more difficult, the decision was made to scale the operation back, with officials saying they will scan the water by air for the next several days.  

“Definitely a bummer with the holidays and awful for their families and this circumstance,” Murphy said.  

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