Boat Found but Dad, Son Still Missing

A boat belonging to two La Conchita fishermen who disappeared at sea last weekend was found Thursday partially submerged 11 miles off the coast of Ventura, but a Coast Guard spokesman said there was no sign of the missing men.

The fishing boat, named Mean Green, was located outside the shipping channel about 1 p.m. Thursday by another vessel.

The crew immediately contacted the Coast Guard, which a day earlier had suspended the search for the two fishermen.

Randy Stone, 53, and his son, Ben Stone, 25, have been missing since Saturday, when they failed to return from one of their frequent fishing trips, family members said.

Coast Guard officials had searched the areas between Ventura and the Channel Islands and the coasts of Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands, but turned up no signs of the pair.

Officials said earlier in the week that a fully submerged boat had been spotted Saturday near Channel Islands Harbor, but were unsure Thursday if it was the Stones’ boat.

Petty Officer Dan Tremper said Thursday evening that the Coast Guard had a 47-foot rescue boat on scene and that officials were working with a private salvage company to bring in the submerged boat.

Tremper said it was unclear how the boat became disabled, and an investigation is pending.