Families of missing fishermen hold out hope

The families of the three fishermen reported missing off the west coast of Vancouver Island say they have not lost hope.

Crews have been combing the waters for the six-metre aluminum boat that was carrying three fishermen and a guide when it vanished after setting out from the Qualicum Rivers Fishing Lodge on Monday.

CBC News has learned the three men are longtime fishing companions fromthe United States.

Elizabeth Idlewine, whose 53-year-old husband Peter is one of the missing men, said he has been a guest at the fishing lodge in Winter Harbour three previous times.

"He likes to fish, he loves the eating of the fresh fish, and it's such a great resource there," she said.

Idlewine, from Brush Prairie, Wash., said the families are hopeful their loved ones will be found safe.

"I'm hopeful that they haven't found the debris, that lets me know that I think maybe he's still out there. We just have to find him," she said.

"We all hope that they've made it to land and it's just a matter of time before we can find them."

Idlewine said the two other fishermen on the boat, also guests at the lodge, were longtime family friends from Washington and Oregon.

Their families have asked not to be identified, but say are pleased with how the search has been conducted.

Small community leftshaken

Gerry Pash, who speaks for the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria, said searchers are surprised there has been no sign of the boat so far.

"The fact that this boat has not been picked up on radar is a bit of a mystery if it's out in the ocean somewhere, no matter what its state, because it's not supposed to sink," he said.

Residents of the tiny outpostcommunity say the guide is an experienced fisher in his 30s.

"He's a nice guy. He's one of the most safety-orientated guys there," said Willy Knutson, who also works at the lodge.

Guests at the Qualicum Rivers Fishing Lodge have been sent home,while those working at the lodge have been helping in the search.

The men's disappearance has hit the small community hard.

'Never had a boat go missing'

"There's dozens of boats that go out every day out here in various conditions and we've never had a boat go missing or not come home like this," said resident Andrea Vance.

Two other tourists from Washington staying in the area say they also went fishing Monday afternoon and conditions appeared calm.

"We were comfortable out there, it wasn't bad at all," Barry Allen said. "We were commenting on how easy it was to fish out there."

A massive air and water search is continuing although fog has complicated what officials are calling a rescue effort.

The search area stretches more than 100 kilometres along the northwest coast of Vancouver Island.