A renowned fisherman and father remains missing off the east coast, leaving his friends and family desperate for news. Ashley Haigh, 44, was last seen setting out from The Spit on the Gold Coast just after 6:30am on Thursday. His boat was found unmanned near Burleigh about seven hours later, raising concerns about his whereabouts. Haigh's friends and the fishing community are hopeful that he will be found safe, but the search efforts have so far been fruitless. The current has led search crews to focus their efforts on waters more than 170km away in northern NSW. Despite the best conditions for fishing, Haigh's boat failed to return, and authorities are now appealing for information from the public. The fishing community is in shock, as Haigh is well-known and respected. He was on a mission to reel in a marlin, a challenging task even for experienced anglers. Haigh was also known to pack multiple fishing rods, but only one was found on board. The authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward, as they continue their search for Haigh's whereabouts.
