Montz’s family began day with hope & prayers

On Thursday, the family of Matt Montz, a missing crabber, arrived at the boat launch in Intracoastal City at 7 a.m. They came with the hope that Montz would be found alive.
By noon, however, that hope turned to despair when Matt’s body was discovered.
Lauren Montz, his daughter, posted on Facebook, “His body is at peace, and we are absolutely crushed. We appreciate all of the prayers. We know we will get through this.”
The Coast Guard, Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Sheriff’s Marine Unit searched for Montz on Thursday. However, it was not one of those agents who located Montz’s body.
Omega Protein out of Intracoastal City joined in the search with its airplanes. A pilot saw Montz’s body floating on the banks near Oaks Canal, a few miles from where his boat was found.
The Sheriff’s Marine Unit transported Montz to Don’s Boat Landing south of Henry, where the coroner awaited.
The Wildlife and Fisheries agents then told the Montz family, who were waiting in Intracoastal City.
Unofficially, it is believed that Montz may have fallen out of his boat while crabbing.

The morning started with hope

The Thursday morning began with the Montz arriving at the boat dock that Matt docked out of.
They got to speak with Wildlife and Fisheries agents Derek Logan and Katie Matthias before they began the search in the Vermilion Bay. The agents explained where they would be searching for Montz.
When the agents departed, Matt’s wife, Jamie, told them to go find her husband.
Derek responded, “I promise you, we will.”
The boats departed, and Jamie hugged her daughter Lauren, hoping for the best.
“He is a strong man. He can swim if he has to save himself,” said Jamie.
The search for Montz began Tuesday night at around 9 p.m. and ended Thursday afternoon.
Montz, 53, has been a crabber in Vermilion Bay for the last 17 years. The majority of the time, he goes by himself, which always worries his wife.
“I always worry,” said Jamie on Thursday morning. “It is the water which is unpredictable.”
On Tuesday, she expected her husband to return home at around 5:30 p.m. The two planned to eat fresh-boiled crabs.
The routine for Montz was to return to the boat launch, load up and then stop at the crab market and sell his catch in Intracoastal City.
By 7 p.m. on Tuesday, his wife had not heard from him, and she began to worry.
She drove from Maurice to Intracoastal City, hoping to find her husband. She first checked the crab market. He had not been there that day.
She called a friend of Matt’s, who is also a crabber, to find out where he would launch his boat. She drove to the public dock at the old Maxie Pierce’s store.
Jamie saw her husband’s truck and boat trailer in the parking lot. She called the friend back and he encouraged her to call the Wildlife and Fisheries and Sheriff’s Office to report him missing.
The search began Tuesday night and continued all day Wednesday and Thursday.
Tuesday morning, Matt’s crab boat was located miles away from where he usually runs his crab traps. The engine was still in gear when a friend found the boat that had run aground.
One of Matt’s Croc shoes was found, along with his cell phone, in the boat