Man goes missing while fishing in West Hawaii

A missing person investigation is underway after a 63-year-old Captain Cook man went overboard Sunday morning while fishing on a boat off Honaunau.

Mark Knittle is described as 5-feet 10-inches tall, 185 pounds, with curly brown hair with a white mustache and beard.

Police received a report Sunday that at 5 a.m., Knittle and a friend were fishing near the “C” buoy, four miles away from the Honaunau Boat Ramp, when Knittle hooked an ahi.

The friend heard Knittle say, “the fish is huge,” then saw Knittle go overboard into the water.

The friend attempted to grab the line but was unsuccessful, police said. Knittle was seen on the surface and disappeared within seconds. The friend attempted to jump in after Knittle but could not see him anywhere.

Hawaii Fire Department and U.S. Coast Guard personnel were called out and are conducting a continuous search for the next 72 hours.

Police ask that anyone with information regarding this incident call the police department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or email Officer Melani Cline at melani.cline@hawaiicounty.gov.