ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. — The search for an overdue fisherman off the North Carolina coast that began Saturday was suspended Sunday night by the Coast Guard.

Robert Freeman, 62, of Goldsboro, N.C., reportedly headed out Saturday morning from Swansboro to Cape Lookout in his 17-foot, off-white Thunderbird vessel. When he did not return Saturday evening, his son contacted the Coast Guard. Following the report, air and water assets were launched at approximately 6:15 p.m. to search.

A Coast Guard C-130 airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, rescue boats from Coast Guard stations Fort Macon and Emerald Isle, a Marine helicopter from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Cape Lookout National Seashore Park Rangers assisted in the search.

The rescue units exhausted the area between Swansboro and Cape Lookout and up to 30 miles off shore before suspending their efforts at approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

A small craft advisory has been in effect in the area since Saturday evening with 45-knot winds and seas ranging from 6 to 12 feet.