In a heart-stopping development that has reignited hope across Australia’s east coast, the family of missing fisherman Ashley “Ash” Haigh has successfully established a connection with a specialized locator device believed to be on his person. The breakthrough comes amid an intense multi-day search that had shifted toward grim recovery efforts after disturbing early finds.

Ash Haigh, 44, a respected member of the Gold Coast Game Fish Club and a devoted husband and father, vanished on February 5, 2026, during what was meant to be a routine solo marlin fishing trip off the Gold Coast, Queensland. He departed from Runaway Bay Marina early that morning aboard his black half-cabin vessel, the Grey Ghost, with plans to return home for dinner. When the boat failed to appear by evening, his worried family raised the alarm.

By the early hours of February 6, rescuers located the unmanned boat drifting approximately 40-46 km offshore near Burleigh Heads. The vessel appeared intact, with no immediate signs of struggle or the skipper aboard. An extensive air, sea, and coordinated search operation quickly expanded into New South Wales waters, involving police, volunteer groups, and maritime authorities. Friends and fellow fishermen described Haigh as an exceptionally experienced seafarer, well-versed in offshore conditions, making his disappearance all the more baffling on relatively calm seas.

Adding to the anguish, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) registered to Haigh was recovered inactive about 25 km east of Ballina, NSW, on February 7. EPIRBs are designed to activate in emergencies and transmit distress signals to satellites, so its discovery without activation fueled fears that the worst had occurred. Authorities transitioned the mission into a “recovery phase,” a somber acknowledgment that the focus had shifted from rescue to locating remains, while maintaining close contact with the grieving family.

Yet, just as despair seemed to settle in, this latest update has changed everything. The family’s connection to a dedicated personal locator device—likely a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or similar wearable tech Haigh carried as a safety precaution—marks a potential lifeline. Such devices can provide precise GPS coordinates, even in remote ocean areas, and the successful link suggests either manual activation, automatic triggering, or ongoing signal transmission. This could dramatically narrow search zones and offer clues about Haigh’s status and last movements.

The fishing community, which rallied heavily in support, remains on edge but cautiously optimistic. Haigh was known not just for his skills but for his leadership and warmth—former president of his local club and a pillar for many. Messages of hope continue to pour in online, with calls for prayers and positive thoughts.

As teams race to interpret the new locator data and resume targeted operations, the question lingers: Could this be the moment that brings Ash Haigh home safely? For now, every second counts in what has become one of the most emotional maritime searches in recent memory. The family, supported by friends and authorities, holds onto this fragile thread of hope amid the vast, unforgiving sea.