Coast Guard searches for overdue Puerto Rico fisherman in the Mona Passage

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard rescue crews are searching Tuesday for a fisherman reportedly overdue from a fishing trip Saturday to the Pichinchos fishing grounds in the Mona Passage, approximately 35 nautical miles northwest of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Overdue is Jose Luis Mendez Rodriguez, 40, who reportedly departed on fishing trip from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico aboard a 22-foot open boat and he did not return at 5p.m. Saturday, when he was expected to arrive.

Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a telephone call Monday afternoon from a Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources representative, who initially reported the incident to the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan Watchstanders proceeded to launch an Air Station Corpus Christi HU-25 Falcon Jet, on deployment to Puerto Rico, and divert the Coast Guard Cutters Mohawk and Cushing to search for the overdue fisherman.

Since the search began Monday afternoon Coast Guard rescue crews have been searching aboard:

The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk
The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing
Coast Guard HU-25 Falcon Jet from Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas
Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft from Clearwater, Fla.

The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk is a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Key West, Fla.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of fisherman Mendez Rodriguez is requested to contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.

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