MIAMI -- The Coast Guard says it's suspending its search at sunset for two teenage fishermen who've been missing for a week.
Capt. Mark Fedor says the search continues in the meantime and has been a 'true all hands on deck effort'.
The 14-year-old boys, Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, went missing last Friday and their capsized boat was found Sunday. The Coast Guard has searched waters from South Florida up through South Carolina without success.
The boys' families say they plan to continue a private search even after the Coast Guard's efforts end.
The boys are described as consummate seamen who grew up on the water and spent much of their free time boating and fishing.
US Coast Guard takes 'excruciating and gut-wrenching' decision to suspend search for 2 missing teens off Florida pic.twitter.com/S7k7j1wtRy— Amanda Salinas (@AmandaOnFOX7) July 31, 2015
A Florida congressman who represents the community where two teenage fishermen went missing at sea is urging the U.S. Coast Guard to keep searching Friday.
Rep. Patrick E. Murphy issued a statement with a simple plea: "Keep looking."
Fourteen-year-olds Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos of Tequesta have been missing since they set out on a fishing trip a week ago. Their capsized boat was found Sunday.
The Coast Guard has said it will keep searching until it believes there's no reasonable chance the boys could still be found alive. The agency has scheduled a noon news conference on the search.
Murphy, a Democrat, said noted that the water temperatures are warm and the two teens "know the water well."