The search for missing fisherman Sam Outerbridge continues today with the family still desperately hoping for some positive news.

The United States Coast Guard, Marine Police and local fishing boats continue to scour the seas for the 55-year-old, whose boat, the was found floating empty three-and-a-half-miles south south-west of Castle Island on Tuesday night.

The family have been told that a pair of broken glasses and bait found in the boat yesterday suggested some kind of struggle, and they fear he may have been pulled into the water attempting to catch a fish, or hauling in a lobster pot.

A number of relatives have congregated at Mr. Outerbridge's Hamilton Parish home awaiting any news, while others, along with friends and fellow fishermen, joined in yesterday's search off the South Shore.

The family, who are said to be shocked by Mr. Outerbridge's disappearance, have already been through a difficult time with Sam's brother Ross succumbing to a heart attack just three weeks ago.

"He was fearless," a close family friend told

"He has been fishing for years, as long as I can remember. He loved being out on the water, even though he couldn't swim.

"It used to be a joke to many people, but he didn't care. He was fearless, we all just got used to it."

She added the authorities should consider making the wearing of lifejackets compulsory to prevent deaths at sea ? seven people have lost their lives in the waters around Bermuda already this year.

Fellow fisherman Captain Aldo Pace paid tribute to Mr. Outerbridge, who he fears will never be found.

"I will miss seeing him out on the ocean, we will all miss him," said the fellow East End fisherman, captain of Lobster Reef Charters.

"He was a happy-go-lucky guy. A real nice guy. I knew him pretty well and he was full of life. It is a sad day."

Capt. Pace added that he didn't think there was any chance of finding Mr. Outerbridge, because of the nature of the area where he went missing, saying the area was renown for sharks.

Hopes of finding Mr. Outerbridge alive appeared slim, with the search resuming more than 36 hours after he went missing off the 44-foot blue hulled fishing boat which was found by Marine Police and local fisherman at 10.20 p.m. on Tuesday.

Last night Police spokesman Dwayne Caines said a search for the missing fisherman would resume in the morning.

"We will keep trying to find him," he added.

Bermuda Harbour Radio's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) said in a statement yesterday: "At 9.15 this morning a US Coast Guard C130 from CG Air Station Elizabeth City completed a search of waters south-west of Bermuda.

"During the night, two Marine Police Units participated in the investigation and after locating the south of Castle Island, discovered no one on board.

"Marine Police searched the area, which was expanded for a daylight search, to cover an area of 135 square miles south and west of the Island, from Castle Harbour to the southeast corner of Challenger Bank."

Harbour Radio also said prior to the Coast Guard plane returning to the United States, the search was carried out twice, with no success.

"The aircraft commander reported very good search conditions with slight seas and excellent visibility," said the Harbour Radio RCC release.

"Marine Police resources were also back out searching at 06.00 hours, later joined by Fisheries department's and local fishing boats.

The authorities were had been originally alerted by Mr. Outerbridge's wife on Tuesday night when the fisherman failed to return home.