Coast Guard Searching for Fishing Vessel Featured on TV Show

Debris and a body found after emergency alert from 72-foot boat off Massachusetts coast

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:31pm

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The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search on Friday for a commercial fishing vessel off the coast of Massachusetts that was featured on a History Channel show. The 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean sent out an emergency alert early Friday, located about 25 miles off Cape Ann. The Coast Guard found debris and recovered one unresponsive person from the water, as well as an empty life raft.

Why it matters

Commercial fishing is considered one of the most dangerous jobs, with hazardous conditions like high waves, frigid temperatures, and unpredictable weather, especially in the winter months. The Lily Jean and its crew were featured on a TV show highlighting the dangers they faced, and this incident underscores the risks these workers take on a daily basis.

The details

The Lily Jean was a ground fishboat that fished for cod, haddock, and pollock. Its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, and his crew were featured in a 2012 episode of the History Channel show 'Nor'Easter Men,' which detailed the dangerous conditions they endured while working at sea for up to 10 days at a time. At the time of the emergency alert, wind speeds were around 27 mph with 4-foot waves, and the water temperature was just 39 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • The Coast Guard received the emergency alert from the Lily Jean early Friday morning.
  • The search and rescue operation took place on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Lily Jean

A 72-foot commercial fishing vessel that was featured on the History Channel show 'Nor'Easter Men'.

Gus Sanfilippo

The captain of the Lily Jean, described as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman fishing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Vito Giacalone

The head of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, who knew Sanfilippo from his early days in commercial fishing and considered him a hard worker from a fishing family.

Tony Gross

The Gloucester Council President, a retired fisherman who joined other elected officials at the harbor in the city.

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What they’re saying

“He did well for himself. I was proud of him. And now the dock we own, he ties his boat at the dock so we see him every day. He's been to all my kids' weddings. That's how close we were. I feel a sense of loss. A lot of us do.”

— Vito Giacalone, Head of the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund (WRAL)

“The families are just devastated at this point. They are half full of hope and half full of dread, I would imagine.”

— Tony Gross, Gloucester Council President (WRAL)

What’s next

The Coast Guard is continuing its search and investigation into the incident, and the community of Gloucester is awaiting further updates on the fate of the Lily Jean and its crew.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the immense dangers and risks that commercial fishermen face in their daily work, even for experienced crews like the Lily Jean's. It underscores the need for continued safety improvements and support for this vital but hazardous industry.