The search for a missing fisherman, last known to be fishing at the Wedge in Newport Beach on Christmas Eve, continued into a sixth day on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
The fisherman, identified by Garden Grove police as Lu Thu “Tyler” Tran, 42, was visiting family in Southern California for the holidays from Reno, Nevada.
He went fishing in Newport Beach on Dec. 24, not out of the ordinary for Tran, an avid fisherman, Sgt. Nick Jensen of the Garden Grove Police Department said.
Tran’s family had spoken to him in the morning, but at some point on Dec. 24, his family lost contact with him and went to look for him at the Wedge, Jensen said.
There, they found Tran’s car and fishing equipment, but could not locate him. By the evening, police were called. He has not been seen since.
Newport Beach Fire Department Lifeguards began searching for Tran on Christmas Day, but the stormy weather limited their abilities initially, said Brian O’Rourke, chief lifeguard with the department. Visibility improved after the Christmas storm, but incoming stormy weather this week may once again affect search operations.
On Tuesday, Dec. 30, the department searched all day, with dive operations, rescue vessels and personal watercraft, he said.
“We’ll continue with a search of some kind by air. We are planning on some drone searches,” O’Rourke added.
