Friends and family gathered last Saturday at Fiesta Island in Mission Bay, San Diego, to honor the late Mikey Rijavec, a well-known fisherman and YouTuber whose life sadly ended off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, in November. The gathering, a paddle out, saw attendees taking to the waters to lay a wreath in memory of a man revered for his enthusiasm and free spirit. Rijavec, who had over 20,000 YouTube subscribers on his channel SD Fish and Sips, was remembered not only as a local fishing personality but also as an adventuring soul who shared his passion with a global audience.
Rijavec disappeared while fishing eight miles off the coast of Baja California, leading to an extensive search operation. Despite a valiant attempt to recover him alive, his body was discovered near San Cristobal after a multi-day search. According to Hoodline, an empty skiff was found approximately five miles from shore with its outboard motor missing. The search saw the collaboration of U.S. Coast Guard and the Mexican Navy, a testament to the wide net of concern cast for the missing fisherman. Before its conclusion, a GoFundMe campaign raised over $46,000 to support the search, which went to fund fuel, pilots, boats, and aerial support efforts.
Rijavec's content on his YouTube channel was a source of inspiration for many, capturing his zest for life and adventure. "He's just a person of a free spirit, fishing and an adventure that took the chances in that little boat to do what he loved to do," Randall Zorn, a fan of Mikey on YouTube, told 10News. His legacy lives on, inspiring viewers to seize the day and make the most of their lives—a sentiment echoed by his friend Kyle Linnik who knew Rijavec for five years and was quoted saying, "He's just someone that inspires people to like make the best out of their life, take the most, you know, do those things that you kind of hold off on doing."
The paddle out is a traditional surfer's memorial, and on this occasion, it allowed Rijavec’s community to witness—to make tangible—their collective loss and remembrance. Glenn Udvarhelyi, a close fishing friend, reflected on Rijavec’s perpetual happiness, saying to NBC San Diego, "The happiest guy in the water. It doesn't matter if you meet him at his house, out on the water, at the restaurant, he's the exact same guy- he's thrilled to meet you, he's thrilled for the experience, and what you're about to do together, there's just no people like him." Family members, while grappling with their grief, have expressed gratitude for the community support, providing them with some closure in this difficult time.
