Search Continues for Fishing Influencer Three Days After His Mayday Transmission

15 November 2025

When Mikey Rijavec, the charismatic creator behind the YouTube channel SD Fish and Sips, went out on the water on Tuesday, November 11, his routine fishing expedition took a haunting turn. Off the coast of Baja California, eight miles from shore, his 14-foot skiff began suffering engine trouble. Rijavec issued a mayday call, an SOS that was cut short with no further contact. His boat was later recovered five miles off the coast, but the six-horsepower outboard motor was nowhere to be found.

The search and rescue mission immediately kicked into high gear. Local search boats, private planes, ground crews, the Mexican Navy and even the U.S. Coast Guard joined the effort. A GoFundMe page launched by his brother, Gregory Rijavec, aimed to raise funds for the expanding search. According to the page, dozens of local vessels and aircraft responded in the critical hours and days following his disappearance.

Those who knew Mikey describe him as an adventurer. Podcaster Phil Friedman, a personal friend, remarked on how Rijavec pushed boundaries and took risks as part of his outdoor filming and streaming lifestyle. “It could be foul play,” Friedman said. “You never know, it’s something that happens at sea sometimes. It could be a whale. It could be a shark.”

Mikey’s digital presence had grown to nearly 20,000 subscribers. His weekly videos chronicled his passion for fishing, his love of the ocean, and his willingness to navigate unpredictable waters. His last upload, dated November 3, hints at how deeply he immersed himself in those elements. When he failed to return from his latest outing, alarm bells rang across both his professional network and his personal circle.

Family and friends say that fresh details emerged from the Mexican Navy, altering the search team’s tactics. According to Gregory, the new information prompted a redirection of efforts toward combing all local beaches raising concerns that the drift pattern of the missing boat might be more complex than initially estimated. In his GoFundMe note, Gregory thanked the public for the wave of support and added, “Today and everyday, stay positive.” The message echoed the optimism of a brother refusing to give up hope.

This story is a stark reminder of the perils that accompany life on the edge of social-media adventure. What we often see through the lens of YouTube is exhilaration: speeding through surf, casting lines in unspoiled spots, sharing triumphs with an online audience. But the sea is a formidable environment, indifferent to cameras or followers. In this case, the machinery failure is only the beginning of the mystery. With no engine recovered and no further communication, the bare facts raise hard questions. Was it simply mechanical malfunction or did something more sinister intervene?

Local weather conditions at the time remain unclear, but the distance from shore and the absence of propulsion suggest that Rijavec was stranded in open water, vulnerable to currents, marine life and technology failure. The recovery of the empty craft alone offers little comfort to the people who watched him live a seemingly confident, prepared life. The ocean has swallowed many stories, and this may become one of them if no further clues emerge.

For his family, this has become a race against time. Every passing day reduces the likelihood of finding him alive. The involvement of both Mexican and U.S. authorities underscores the cross-border nature of his journey and his disappearance. Although the vessel was found, the missing engine is a key piece of the puzzle. Without it, investigators struggle to reconstruct what happened and how far the skiff may have drifted before being located.

Meanwhile, Mikey’s online community holds its breath. The new wave of concern blends genuine fear for the man they’ve followed with sorrow for what this event may mean for him and his loved ones. The dynamics of influencer culture where personal risk becomes content are laid bare here. Followers share memories of his upbeat persona, his devotion to fishing, his enthusiasm. Behind the camera, though, he faced the unknown.

As search efforts continue, each day brings only incremental updates. The absence of definitive news leaves vacuum filled by speculation. Friends offer theories. Family clings to optimism. Officials push on methodically. The sea remains both stage and threat. For those monitoring this tragedy, the lines between adventure and danger are sharper than ever.

Whatever eventually transpires, Mikey Rijavec’s disappearance offers a sobering lesson about the hazards inherent in turning outdoor passion into content: charm and charisma cannot override the raw unpredictability of nature. And in a world where experiences are broadcast widely, it is easy to forget the perils that lie just beyond the frame.