U.S. Coast Guard suspends search for missing Mississippi Coast fisherman
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a Mississippi Coast shrimper who fell overboard Tuesday afternoon, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Randisi.
The search by air and water for Lam Tra, 56, a former Biloxi resident now living in D’Iberville, began after two crew members aboard the shrimp boat called for help after Tra went missing around 4 p.m. Tuesday, his daughter Jennifer Fra said.
Tra was working with two other shrimpers at the time.
“They don’t even know what happened,” she said. “They assumed he went overboard. They didn’t see him on the boat, and his phone was gone.”
According to Randisi, the search began when Tra was reported missing Tuesday afternoon near Chandeleur Sound.
Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans and the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile had air crews out searching for Tra and the Coast Guard station in Gulfport has vessels in the water looking for Tra. The Coast Guard suspended the search at 8:21 p.m. Wednesday, Randisi said.
Additional agencies assisted in the search, including the U.S. Cajun Navy.
The Cajun Navy is continuing its search for Tra or his remains.
Josh Gill, incident commander for the Cajun Navy, commended the Coast Guard on Thursday for its “phenomenal” efforts to find Tra.
“They had so many out searching that it was useless for us to get … in the air then,” Gill said, but added that the group has mixed-wing aircraft and other vessels in the water on Thursday still searching for the husband and father.
In addition, he said, there is such a large fishing community that many of those people are still out looking for Tra.
“It’s tough out in the Gulf,” Gill said. “It’s an unfortunate incident anytime somebody is missing, especially from a boat.”
The Cajun Navy is maintaining close contact with Tra’s family regarding ongoing efforts to locate their loved one.
His daughter said the Coast Guard told the family it suspended the search because the chance of Tra surviving in the water this long “is extremely low.”
Meanwhile, his daughter said the family set up a GoFundMe account to help with expenses for a celebration of life for her father once his remains are recovered.
This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 9:48 AM.
