Mark Knittle fell overboard when he was trying to reel in a “huge tuna” last Sunday and nothing has been heard from the fisherman since
Authorities are searching for a man who appears to have been pulled overboard by a large tuna while fishing Sunday off South Kona, Hawaii.
Mark Knittle, 63, was fishing with a friend about four miles beyond the Honaunau boat ramp when the incident occurred before dawn, Hawaii News Now reported.
Knittle, from Captain Cook’s community, had just caught a tuna fish and told his friend, “The fish is huge,” moments before falling overboard.
It is not clear if Knittle got hooked on his rod and reel, and fished with a very tight drag, which could explain how he was swept overboard.
Knittle’s friend tried to grab the line and also jumped overboard to try and catch up with Knittle before he disappeared under the water.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Hawaii Island police have opened a missing person case involving Knittle, who is 5-foot-10, weighs 185 pounds and has curly brown hair and a mustache.
The search, involving the US Coast Guard and the Hawaii Fire Department, was scheduled to continue Tuesday, but no finds have been reported as of yet.