Coast Guard Suspends Search For Missing Fishermen Off Nantucket Coast

NEW BEDFORD (CBS) -- The Coast Guard has suspended their search for two missing fishermen off Nantucket, but state police divers will return to the area Thursday.

Family and friends of Michael Roberts, 44, and Jonathan Saraiva, 32, are still holding out hope for their safe return. The Misty Blue left Fairhaven Saturday night, and went down around 6:30 Monday evening.

Two other crew members, Captain Eric Arabian and Colby McMullen, were saved by a nearby fishing boat.

The Coast Guard suspended their search Tuesday night after covering a 1,605 square nautical mile area. The search included aircraft, rescue boats and good Samaritans.

A representative for the company that owns the Misty Blue said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that they may have located the boat.

The two rescued fisherman are said to be in good condition.

Another boat assisting in the search, F/V Mariette, found the Misty Blue's life raft with no crewmen inside.

Bill Vearysays, Michael Roberts' neighbor and friend, said he is a great guy. "Mike is a hell of a nice guy, he'll give you the shirt off his back if you have to," said Vearysays. "He's been fishing, god knows, probably 40 years."

The Misty Blue is owned by F/V Misty Blue LLC. It departed from Fairhaven.