A missing towboat captain who had reported that his boat was taking on water at approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday was found dead inside the vessel's cabin after an hours-long search.

The Coast Guard received a distress call from the captain, later identified as 38-year-old John Redler, of the 29-foot TowBoat U.S. vessel "Triple J" around 1 a.m.

The Coast Guard immediately began a search, according to a press statement. Redler's home port was in Marion.

The Wareham Harbormaster Department found the boat unmanned and partially submerged at approximately 6 a.m., about three miles south of Hog Island Channel, according to the Coast Guard.

Hog Island Channel is located in Buzzards Bay in the area of Great Neck in Wareham, near Stoney Point Dike.

Divers from the Wareham Fire Department recovered the man's body at approximately 8:30 a.m., Coast Guard officials said. His identity was not immediately released.

"When we first got the call this morning, conditions were difficult at best," said Wareham Fire Captain Mark Rogers. "Heavy mist. Fog. Visibility was less than a quarter mile. Spotty showers. It was tough conditions."

Wareham Fire sent a five-person dive team to the scene at the request of the Wareham Harbormaster, Rogers said.

"Line-of-sight was nonexistent," Rogers noted, adding that Onset Fire also sent a boat.

The Marion Harbormaster Department and Bourne Police Department also assisted in the search. Wareham Police responded to the scene.

A 25-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station Cape Cod Canal, a 41-foot Utility Boat from Coast Guard Station Woods Hole, and the Coast Guard Cutter Tigershark were launched to search for the captain.

“Ending a search like this is a hard outcome to accept,” said Lt. Brian Hall, the command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Wareham Police and State Police are continuing to investigate the incident. We will update this story as more information becomes available.