NorCal fishing trip turns deadly after boat overturns 30 yards from shore

The family of a Shasta County man say they are “shattered” after his body was found in Ruth Lake following a fishing trip disaster.

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Dylan Asbury was on a night fishing trip along with two friends when their boat capsized early Saturday morning, according to a preliminary investigation by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. 

The small aluminum fishing boat was just 30 yards offshore when it overturned around 1:30 a.m. The three friends unsuccessfully tried to right the boat before starting to swim to shore.

Although Asbury’s two friends were able to make it to land, the 25-year-old from Cottonwood “began experiencing distress in the water and was unable to make it to shore,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. 

“Despite the efforts of the other occupants to locate him by calling out and searching the area, they were unable to find him and contacted 911 for assistance,” the sheriff’s office said in the release. 

Deputies from the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, along with a helicopter crew from the U.S. Coast Guard, responded to the scene to search for Asbury.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Kenneth Wiese told SFGATE the Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the small boat about 100 yards offshore during the search. 

“They were able to see ground crews searching for this individual in the water, but they couldn’t see anybody that was missing,” Wiese told SFGATE. “They made several passes, but due to fuel levels becoming really low, fog closing in, they had to return back to base.” 

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The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office said Asbury’s body was discovered Sunday by members of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office dive team. The death remains under investigation.

A GoFundMe set up for Asbury’s family said his body was discovered “40 yards from the boat’s tipping point, deep in the water.”

“Our hearts are shattered, and we’re uncertain if our family will ever fully recover from the profound loss of Dylan,” family representative Leslie Maxwell wrote. 

Maxwell called Asbury “one of a kind.” 

“We will do our best to honor him and keep his spirit alive in telling stories and remembering his laugh, his hugs, his kind and caring heart,” Maxwell wrote. “The world was a better, brighter place with him in it and there will be a spot in our hearts for him that nobody can ever replace.”