GULF COAST WEATHER. >> AND IF THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST SEARCHES IN THE HISTORY SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. >> THIS MORNING, THE SEARCH FOR 2 MISSING BOATERS CONTINUES 70 MILES OFF THE COAST, A FORT MYERS. SO NOW WE HAVE ENTERED A 3 OF THE SEARCH FOR 57 YEAR-OLD RANDY SPIDEY AND HIS NEPHEW. 33 YEAR-OLD BRANDON BILL MEYER. FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THE MEN SET OUT FOR A DAY FISHING TRIP FRIDAY MORNING, BUT THEY HAVEN’T BEEN SEEN SINCE. AND THAT HAS SPARKED A MULTI-AGENCY SEARCH AND THE U.S. COAST GUARD, AIR FORCE AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS ALL BEEN WORKING. >> ALL THROUGH THE WEEKEND TO FIND THE MEN. RIGHT NOW. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER JACKI GUNTHER’S JOINING US LIVE FROM FORT MYERS BEACH, TELLING US MORE ABOUT TODAY’S SEARCH EFFORTS. JACKIE. >> JACK, THE DESPERATE SEARCH FOR THE 2 BOATERS CONTINUES THIS MORNING AFTER THEY’VE BEEN MISSING FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS IN THE SEARCH EFFORTS ARE EXPANDING ON FRIDAY MORNING. 57 YEAR-OLD RANDY SPIDEY AND HIS 33 YEAR-OLD NEPHEW BRANDON BILL MEYER SET OFF FROM RANDY’S DOG ON A FISHING TRIP ON THIS. 42 FOOT FREEMAN VOTE. THEY WERE REPORTED MISSING AROUND 09:00PM FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN THEY DID NOT RETURN HOME THAT AFTERNOON WHEN THEY WERE EXPECTED, THEN AROUND ONE 30 SATURDAY MORNING. THE U.S. COAST GUARD SAYS THEY RECOVERED THEIR EMPTY BOAT ABOUT 70 MILES OFF THE COAST. STILL RUNNING, FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THE SEARCH EFFORTS WILL HAVE UPDATED COORDINATE GRIDS FOR TODAY’S SEARCH AROUND 8 THIS MORNING. BOTH WILL DEPART FROM FORT MYERS DOWN TO MARCO ISLAND, FOCUSING 70 MILES WEST OF NAPLES. THE SEARCH IS BEING LED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD WITH LOCAL AGENCIES LIKE A LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ALSO INVOLVED. THEY’RE ALSO VOLUNTEER SEARCH EFFORTS CONDUCTED BY FAMILY FRIENDS LIKE PAUL RICK HAHN. >> I CAN’T EVEN COUNT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE EVEN MESSAGE ME JUST SAYING, I WANT TO HELP, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND YOU DON’T HAVE A RIDE TO GET OUT TO THE SEARCH AREA, THEN SPREAD THE WORD AND KEEP THE WORD GOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE TO YOUR YOUR FRIENDS WHO MAY HAVE BOATS THAT ARE CAPABLE TO ASSIST AND AND THE SEARCH EFFORTS. >> THE COAST GUARD SAYS RANDY MAY HAVE WHEN WEARING A BLUE AND YELLOW AUTO INFLATE VEST. I JUST SPOKE TO RANDY’S WIFE, TRISHA SPIDEY, AND SHE SAYS THAT SHE’S SO THANKFUL FOR THE OUTPOURING LOVE IN SUPPORT OF THE GULF COAST COMMUNITY TRYING TO BRING RANDY AND BRANDON HOME. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON WHERE THEY COULD BE, PLEASE CONTACT THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE OR THE U.
Search expands in Gulf for missing Fort Myers fishermen after boat found running with no one aboard
Updated: 6:23 AM EST Dec 22, 2025
Crews are intensifying their search for two men who went missing during a fishing trip. Their boat was found still running, with no one aboard, 70 miles off the coast of Fort Myers on Saturday.U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are actively searching for Randy Spivey, 57, and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier, 33, who went missing during the trip that began Friday morning.Family members reported Spivey and Billmaier were missing after they left from their private dock in Iona early Friday morning and didn’t return before sundown.The boat, a green 42-foot Freeman catamaran named “Unstoppable,” was found by the Coast Guard on Saturday morning running and drifting about 70 miles offshore from Fort Myers, with no one on board.Officials emphasize that the operation remains a search-and-rescue effort, not a recovery mission.The U.S. Coast Guard, leading the search from Miami, is joined by Collier and Lee County fire and law enforcement crews, with firefighters volunteering their time on the water. Volunteer pilots have also joined the search, taking private planes from Naples Airport to assist in locating the missing fishermen.Search coordinators have renewed hope after learning that they may have been wearing blue and yellow auto-inflate life jackets, which could increase their chances of survival. Scott Smith, a civilian rescue coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard, said, “Randy was more likely wearing a life jacket and an auto-inflate life jacket, which gives everybody a little bit more hope that if they’re wearing life jackets.”Despite more than 48 hours passing, crews continue to search aggressively, holding on to hope that Spivey and Billmaier can still be found and brought home. The search efforts are ongoing, with live updates expected from Fort Myers Beach.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Crews are intensifying their search for two men who went missing during a fishing trip. Their boat was found still running, with no one aboard, 70 miles off the coast of Fort Myers on Saturday.
U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are actively searching for Randy Spivey, 57, and his nephew, Brandon Billmaier, 33, who went missing during the trip that began Friday morning.
Family members reported Spivey and Billmaier were missing after they left from their private dock in Iona early Friday morning and didn’t return before sundown.
The boat, a green 42-foot Freeman catamaran named “Unstoppable,” was found by the Coast Guard on Saturday morning running and drifting about 70 miles offshore from Fort Myers, with no one on board.
Officials emphasize that the operation remains a search-and-rescue effort, not a recovery mission.
The U.S. Coast Guard, leading the search from Miami, is joined by Collier and Lee County fire and law enforcement crews, with firefighters volunteering their time on the water. Volunteer pilots have also joined the search, taking private planes from Naples Airport to assist in locating the missing fishermen.
Search coordinators have renewed hope after learning that they may have been wearing blue and yellow auto-inflate life jackets, which could increase their chances of survival.
Scott Smith, a civilian rescue coordinator for the U.S. Coast Guard, said, “Randy was more likely wearing a life jacket and an auto-inflate life jacket, which gives everybody a little bit more hope that if they’re wearing life jackets.”
Despite more than 48 hours passing, crews continue to search aggressively, holding on to hope that Spivey and Billmaier can still be found and brought home. The search efforts are ongoing, with live updates expected from Fort Myers Beach.
Special to Gulf Coast News
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.