Montville — The Coast Guard announced Monday night that it had suspended its search for a local man who left to go flounder fishing on the Thames River Sunday morning and didn’t return.

Crews located the kayak of Lyle Dagenais, 31, near the Yale boathouse in Gales Ferry. He is described as white, 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray "I love NY" hooded sweatshirt, dark-colored jeans or khakis, hiking boots and possibly a hat.

“Suspending a search is a difficult decision to make,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer John Colella, command duty officer of Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones (affected).”

The Coast Guard said responders searched for approximately 15 hours and covered roughly 80 square nautical miles, including the length of the Thames River from Norwich to Fishers Island, N.Y.

Involved in the search were a helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Coast Guard Station New London, Connecticut State Police, the Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Department and the Montville and Norwich police departments. 

Earlier Monday, Frank Iannazzo-Simmons, a Coast Guard public affairs spokesman said local fire and police personnel searched a shallow cove Dagenais was known to frequent while Coast Guard crews searched several other coves along the river.

Iannazzo-Simmons said the water temperature was 39 degrees and the description of what Dagenais was wearing "does pose concerns as far as functionality and survival."

"We want to stress safety, safety, safety," he said. "There are a lot of steps people can take, whether filing a float plan if you're going out by yourself or ensuring you're wearing the proper gear, to be prepared for the water. The air temperatures are getting nicer, but that means nothing as far as the water temperatures."

According to police, family members of Dagenais called from their Montville residence about 11:24 p.m. Sunday to report him missing. They told police Dagenais took three fishing poles, a tackle box and a gray and orange 11-foot kayak with him when he left about 11 a.m. Sunday.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Troop E barracks in Montville at (860) 848-6500.