The tragic discovery of a California fisherman, celebrated for his engaging fishing videos on YouTube, has been confirmed by his family. Mikey Rijavec, the creative force behind the channel SD Fish and Sips, was found deceased off the coast of Mexico, several days after his distress call and disappearance.
Rijavec had embarked on a solo fishing expedition near Baja California on November 11 when he sent out a mayday call at 3 p.m. local time. His body was later recovered near San Cristobal, as detailed by his family in a heartfelt message on their GoFundMe page.
“While it is incredibly difficult to come to terms with this outcome, we are thankful for the closure it brings,” the family expressed. “As we start to process the events of the past few days, one thing has become clear—the search for Mikey was driven by love.”
The search effort was a collaborative endeavor, involving U.S. and Mexican authorities alongside local fishermen who mobilized to locate Rijavec. The U.S. Coast Guard noted that the Mexican Navy has taken over the investigation, as it falls within their jurisdiction.
Rijavec’s passion for fishing and his ability to connect with audiences through his YouTube channel won him a devoted following. Sadly, his solo trip ended in tragedy, marking a somber moment for both his family and the online community he inspired. (Image courtesy of Gregory Rijavec via GoFundMe)
The family said U.S. and Mexican authorities, along with the local fishing community, rallied to help in the search for Rijavec. The U.S. Coast Guard said the Mexican Navy is handling the case since it is their area of responsibility.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mexican Navy for comment, but have not yet heard back.
Mikey Rijavec’s family said his “mission was to spread his positive energy and make every person he came in contact with better.” (Gregory Rijavec via GoFundMe)
“Everyone poured everything into finding Mikey, because whether they knew him or not, they knew a son, a brother, a friend, a fisherman, a fellow human needed help,” the family’s post read. “Everyone has been extremely selfless during this time, and selflessness is one of the greatest acts of love.”
An aerial view of Mexico’s Baja California. Mikey Rijavec body was found off the coast of Mexico days after he made a mayday call. (Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images)
His family remembered him as “mindful and present every day,” which allowed him to “live a longer life than can be measured on a calendar.”
“His mission was to spread his positive energy and make every person he came in contact with better, and he did,” the post read. “Mikey prepared us to deal with this, and if we live by his example we will not only be OK, we will be better.”
