<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A community is devastated as a father and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/missing-fisherman-gold-coast-boat-found-no-one-on-board-seaway-rescue-queensland-news/3e4b2f48-dce8-471e-8794-d60c1b0d2b06" rel="" target="_blank" title="renowned fisherman remains missing in the waters"><span>renowned fisherman remains missing in the waters</span></a><span> on Australia's east coast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ashley Haigh, 44, was last seen setting out from The Spit on the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/gold-coast" rel="" target="_blank" title="Gold Coast"><span>Gold Coast</span></a><span> just after 6.30am on Thursday and was reported missing when his black half-cabin boat failed to return about 7pm that same day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His boat was found unmanned near Burleigh about seven hours later.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tropical-cyclone-mitchell-to-intensify-to-category-3-storm-ahead-of-landfall/d71a616f-c028-442f-8117-63bde494c3fe" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Tropical cyclone to break eight-year record when it makes landfall as category 3 storm</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Andrew Dunbar has been friends with Haigh for 15 years and spoke with him the night before he went missing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our hope is that we find Ash," he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If you were going to be out at sea in the water, the conditions over the last two days have probably been the best you could probably expect." </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/ashley-haigh-devastation-as-father-and-renowned-fisher-remains-missing-off-east-coast/ed698388-6225-4733-b300-9ee0ca067cf4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dunbar described Haigh as the backbone of the local fishing community. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's a very experienced fisherman, been fishing for a long time," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Stuart Grice from Doug Burt's Tackle World said Haigh was well-known in the fishing community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/andre-de-ruyter-shark-attack-victim-manly-sydney-off-life-support/72ea435d-bdc8-49e8-a1be-cc1108a307f6" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Sydney shark attack victim 'healing' as he comes off life support</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ash is a local friend of the fishing community, president of the local Gold Coast game fish club. Well-renowned fisherman, skipper, father, husband," he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9News understands Haigh was on a mission to reel in a marlin, which can be a challenge for even experienced anglers. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was also known to pack multiple fishing rods but authorities only found one on board.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police also found one life jacket missing, but were unable to confirm whether he had been wearing one at the time. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Due to the current, search crews are focusing their efforts on the waters more than 170km away in northern </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, they expanded their search area further south from Byron Bay to Evans Head.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both NSW and Queensland authorities have been out searching for Haigh, with five marine vessels and one aircraft scouring the waters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Crews are asking anyone with information about Haigh's location or welfare to come forward. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If anyone is out there and they do see anything at all, retrieve it and give it to one of our rescue vessels," Marine Rescue NSW's John Murray said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>