Anglers rescued after 5-hour search

After a five-hour search and recovery, Bunbury Sea Rescue volunteers saved three men whose boat experienced engine trouble off the coast on Friday afternoon.

The men, who were on a fishing trip, were located about 4km offshore at about 6.30pm and towed back to safety.

Water Police contacted sea rescue volunteers to report that the boat's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon had been activated about 17km west of Bunbury.

Bunbury Sea Rescue skipper Eliot Fisher said the rescue could have potentially been worse.

"The sea was rough and the wind was coming up, which was quite a concern," he said.

The rescue boat initially went to the last-known coordinates but the crew were unable to locate the five-metre fishing boat.

Mr Fisher said the fishing boat had also lost radio communication but his crew were able to communicate by mobile phone.

"The problem with that is, what happens when the mobile phone goes flat?" Mr Fisher said.

Volunteers ran into trouble themselves when the use of multiple search lights on board caused a circuit break and the rescue boat lost power.

Mr Fisher said crew used hand-held lights to continue the search.

"We had some major difficulties during the search and they (the fishermen) had fired their last flare," he said.

"It was potentially a really dangerous situation so we were delighted to finally locate them.

"They were in a distressed state and extremely cold but we checked and monitored them on the way back and they appeared fine."