The body of the skipper of the “Patty AJ,” which capsized inside the Coos Bay Bar, March 23, was not recovered from the vessel after it was moved and searched by a Coos Co. Sheriff’s Office Rescue Dive Team after the salvager moved it to shallower water, Wednesday, March 30. The U.S. Coast Guard, which suspended its search for Capt. Jerry Barkely last week, has now declared the channel clear and safe to navigate. The “Patty AJ” went down suddenly while returning to port with a load of fish. Three crew members were rescued. It’s the fourth vessel to sink near the entrance to the Coos Bay Channel this year.
