Authorities said no flotation device was found in or near his makeshiftwooden boat.
Friends said he had been impressed by someone else catching a largebass in the same pond earlier in the week, and had gone to try his ownluck.
Melendez had last been seen in the boat Friday afternoon, but it wasn'tuntil late Saturday that his acquaintances realized they hadn't seen himin hours.
Emergency workers worked through most of Saturday night and Sundaymorning to look for him. Teams from Wake County EMS and sheriff'sdepartment were joined by workers from Holly Springs, Apex, Garner andFuquay-Varina.
His wife and child live in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and his body willbe sent there for burial.
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