Two men missing after failing to return from late-night fishing trip

Police are still hopeful two fishermen missing in Moreton Bay will be found alive after their boat was found overnight, and the search ramps up for a second day.

POLICE are remaining hopeful two fishermen missing in Moreton Bay will be found alive as the search ramps up for the two friends.

The search now has 20 vessels, two aircraft and SES personnel conducting land searches looking for the men who are from Calamvale and Durack.

Inspector Lindsay Kilpatrick said the vessel was found with little damage.

“A number of items have been found in the water in the vicinity near where the vessel was located yesterday afternoon and the search is ongoing,” he said.

Carwyn Massey is one of two men missing in Moreton Bay. (Instagram picture)

“Some of those items include lifejackets and fishing lines. It’s unclear at this stage how many lifejackets were in the vessel.”

Insp Kilpatrick said the boat was found with very little damage and had been righted and now floating.

“They have been fishing before ... I understand they’re friends from Durack and Calamvale.

“The weather has eased a little bit this morning as far as wind goes which is assisting in our search ... We’re worried because the two gentlemen were not located with the vessel.”

Insp. Kilpatrick said it is still a search and rescue operation at this stage with police confirming there is still a possibility the men can be found alive.

OVERNIGHT: A boat belonging to two men missing in Moreton Bay since late on Saturday night has been found overnight.

The boat was found in the vicinity of Green Island, off Wynnum, about 5pm yesterday afternoon.

The 3.3m tinnie was found partially submerged. There was no sign of the men.

A search for the pair continues today.

Carwyn Massey, 25, and Timothy Maher, 31, haven’t been seen or heard from since Saturday night, when they failed to return from a fishing trip.

They last contacted family just after 10pm on Saturday to say they were heading home, however they failed to return.

The boat is a 3.3m long dark blue Stacer brand aluminium tinnie, with red Queensland registration OM209Q.

Their car and trailer were located at the Whyte Island boat ramp in the Port of Brisbane, where Massey and Maher set off.

Their family has issued a desperate appeal to the public for information.

“It’s unsure where they were actually fishing in the bay,” Inspector Karl Hayne said.

“There is some belief they were fishing around the Port of Brisbane.

“Their vehicle and trailer are still here at the Whytes Island boat ramp.”

A wide search using 13 vessels and several helicopters was mobilised yesterday and is expected to resume today, however no trace of the men and their distinctive blue tinnie has been found.

Police, the Queensland Coast Guard, RACQ LifeFlight and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre are among those involved in the search.

The search includes a large area of water between the Port of Brisbane, Peel Island, the shipwrecks on Moreton Island’s western side and North Stradbroke Island.

The two men and this tinnie are still missing. Picture: QPS Media

Mr Massey’s sister Rhiannon took to Facebook yesterday asking the public for information.

“My brother Carwyn Massey has been missing since last night,” Ms Massey wrote.

“If anyone hears anything, please contact the police or myself and my family.”

The pair’s disappearance and subsequent search came amid treacherous conditions whipped up by strong winds in southeast Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a strong-wind warning for Moreton Bay and seas along the Queensland coast for today.

BOM meteorologist Matthew Bass said conditions on Saturday had been tipped to include 20-30 knot winds.