John Branner Fowler Jr., 43, was aboard his 40-foot troller Rex when the vessel sank about nine miles southwest of Sitka, Alaska, on November 1, 1987. He was an experienced fisherman and skipper, described as a Caucasian male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, about 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Search and rescue teams recovered debris from the Rex and an empty life raft, but no sign of Fowler or any remains. The U.S. Coast Guard documented the sinking and the recovery of debris and the life raft; Fowler is presumed lost at sea. The circumstances that led to the troller’s sinking remain unclear.

Does anyone who knew John Fowler, worked on Alaskan trollers in 1987, or has information about the Rex’s final voyage have details to share?