61-year-old fisherman mysteriously vanishes on Lake Michigan, authorities say

A 61-year-old fisherman has been reported missing after failing to return from an outing on Lake Michigan, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard said David Split left Spring Lake in a 29-foot fishing boat, but he was reported missing after 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, when he did not make it back to shore.

Split’s cell phone was last pinged about 6 miles off the shore of Holland, according to the Fruitport Township Police Department. Split is from Fruitport in western Michigan.

“Split is known to fish near the mouth of the Grand River and slightly offshore,” police said.

Crews searched overnight for Split. The Coast Guard said Wednesday morning about 1,800 square nautical miles have been searched.

The search is in two areas, the area near Grand Haven where he normally fishes and where Lake Macatawa feeds into Lake Michigan, Coast Guard officials told WZZM.

Anyone with information about Split’s whereabouts is asked to call the Coast Guard at 414-747-7182.

This story was originally published September 13, 2023 at 11:42 AM with the headline "61-year-old fisherman mysteriously vanishes on Lake Michigan, authorities say."