The search for two missing fishermen continues early Sunday morning, with the U.S. Coast Guard confirming crews will continue working overnight and rotate fresh teams in at first light. Family told Gulf Coast News, they began searching Friday when 57-year-old Randy Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier went missing. On Saturday, the Lee County Sheriff’ Office and the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the agencies are involved in the search.As the search continues, here is how you can be involved: Community Search Efforts Family members are also rallying the Southwest Florida community for a large, coordinated volunteer search beginning early Sunday morning.In a message shared online, the family is calling on anyone with a boat capable of a 200-mile range to help. The Coast Guard will issue an official search grid around 7 a.m., which will be distributed to volunteers by text. Boats are expected to depart from ports between Punta Gorda and Marco Island, with the search likely centered west of Naples. Volunteers are asked to contact Paul at 239-634-3400 with this information:- Departure port- Vessel name- Captain and first mate names- Contact numbers- Vessel range”Thank you for your help and prayers. Please pass this on,” the family said, expressing gratitude for the community’s support.Coast Guard SearchThe Coast Guard says the active search area remains about 70 miles offshore, centered near 25-36N, 083-16W, spanning roughly 35 statute miles and reaching up to 5,000 feet in altitude. A smaller cutter, multiple aircraft, and surface crews are involved. Air Force assets assisted for several hours Saturday before nightfall.The Coast Guard posted on social media, advising all aircraft to “maintain situational awareness & not interfere w/ search & rescue crews.”They also urged monitoring of Channel 16 and reporting any important information to the U.S. Coast Guard.Lee County Sheriff’s Office The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says the U.S. Coast Guard is requesting the public’s help in an ongoing investigation and asks anyone with information to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000 or the US Coasr Guard sector St. Pete watchstanders: 866-881-1392. Watcherstanders maintain a continuous watch and direct coordination with partner agencies to deploy Coast Guard assets at a moments notice for emergent SAR cases.Gulf Coast News will update this article with continued search efforts as more information becomes available.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
The search for two missing fishermen continues early Sunday morning, with the U.S. Coast Guard confirming crews will continue working overnight and rotate fresh teams in at first light.
Family told Gulf Coast News, they began searching Friday when 57-year-old Randy Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier went missing. On Saturday, the Lee County Sheriff’ Office and the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the agencies are involved in the search.
As the search continues, here is how you can be involved:
Community Search Efforts
Family members are also rallying the Southwest Florida community for a large, coordinated volunteer search beginning early Sunday morning.
In a message shared online, the family is calling on anyone with a boat capable of a 200-mile range to help. The Coast Guard will issue an official search grid around 7 a.m., which will be distributed to volunteers by text. Boats are expected to depart from ports between Punta Gorda and Marco Island, with the search likely centered west of Naples. Volunteers are asked to contact Paul at 239-634-3400 with this information:
– Departure port
– Vessel name
– Captain and first mate names
– Contact numbers
– Vessel range
“Thank you for your help and prayers. Please pass this on,” the family said, expressing gratitude for the community’s support.
Coast Guard Search
The Coast Guard says the active search area remains about 70 miles offshore, centered near 25-36N, 083-16W, spanning roughly 35 statute miles and reaching up to 5,000 feet in altitude.
A smaller cutter, multiple aircraft, and surface crews are involved. Air Force assets assisted for several hours Saturday before nightfall.
The Coast Guard posted on social media, advising all aircraft to “maintain situational awareness & not interfere w/ search & rescue crews.”
They also urged monitoring of Channel 16 and reporting any important information to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says the U.S. Coast Guard is requesting the public’s help in an ongoing investigation and asks anyone with information to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000 or the US Coasr Guard sector St. Pete watchstanders: 866-881-1392.
Watcherstanders maintain a continuous watch and direct coordination with partner agencies to deploy Coast Guard assets at a moments notice for emergent SAR cases.
Gulf Coast News will update this article with continued search efforts as more information becomes available.