Search for 2 Fishermen Suspended

The Coast Guard has suspended a search for two La Conchita fishermen who disappeared at sea last weekend.

Randy Stone, 53, and his son, Ben Stone, 25, have been missing since Saturday, when they failed to return from one of their frequent fishing trips, family members said.

Since Sunday, when the family notified the Coast Guard, officials have searched the areas between Ventura and the Channel Islands and the coasts of Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands.

“At this time, we’ve kind of exhausted all possibilities,” Petty Officer Louis Hebert said.

On Tuesday, Coast Guard officials confirmed that a submerged boat was spotted Saturday near Channel Islands Harbor, but said they were still investigating whether it was the Stones’ boat. As the missing persons report had not been made at that time, the boat was not investigated; it has not been seen since, officials said.