The Ocean Beach community is mourning the loss of beloved fisherman and YouTuber Mikey Rijavec, known for his channel SD Fish and Sips, whose body was found days after issuing a distress call. Rijavec set out from the coast of Baja California, Mexico, on Nov. 11 for what was supposed to be just a routine day for him. Around 2: 30 p. m., he made a mayday call, reporting engine trouble about eight miles from shore. Moments later, the call went silent. Searchers later found his 14-foot skiff drifting five miles from land, its outboard motor missing. The discovery sparked a massive rescue effort, uniting the Mexican Navy, the U. S. Coast Guard, and dozens of private boats from both sides of the border. His brother Gregory Rijavec quickly launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund fuel and aircraft for the search, writing that the community was “scrambling to use all resources available” to bring Mikey home. Donations and messages from concerned family, friends and fans poured in, and they raised over $40,000. On Nov. 17, their fears were confirmed when Rijavec’s body was found near San Cristóbal in Baja California Sur. According to NBC San Diego, Phil Friedman, a fellow angler, podcaster and close friend of the missing boater, confirmed that he had received the news from Rijavec’s father. He said through SD Fish and Sips, Mikey shared his passion for fishing, conservation, adventure, and building a loyal following that extended far beyond San Diego. “He’s an adventurer. He pushes the envelope. That’s part of what we love about him,“ Friedman said.
https://timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/11/18/body-of-missing-san-diego-fisherman-youtuber-found-in-mexico-waters/