3 boaters rescued near Big Sarasota Pass | News

Sarasota, Florida -- The Coast Guard rescued three boaters near Big Sarasota Pass Thursday morning.

Officials say the father of one the boaters contacted the Coast Guard around 9:45 Wednesday night informing them his son and two friends were overdue from a fishing trip.

Around 12:30 a.m., a helicopter crew found the boaters after they shot off a flare. A boat crew arrived shortly after to get the men.

The men got stranded out in the water after the 22-foot boat suffered engine problems.

The men and the boat were brought in safely to Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach.