Deputies investigating unauthorized boat landing near El Capitan Ranch

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the area near El Capitan Ranch after a boat made landfall in the area Wednesday afternoon.

Your News Channel's Tracy Lehr was on the scene and detailed that Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputies are searching for at least three men who may have been in the boat. Two Sheriff SUVs and a helicopter could be seen in the area assisting in the search.

A woman, who allowed deputies to drive through a private gate onto private property on El Capitan Ranch, said over an intercom that the boat jetted onto the beach around 3:15 p.m. in thick fog. Two Sheriff SUVs and a State Park Peace Officer entered the gated property to search for evidence. It is believed that the men jumped a fence onto another property.

Park Rangers on scene said that this operation is under the Sheriff's office jurisdiction and a Sheriff's spokesperson said the Department of Homeland Security was in charge. It is unclear at this time if anyone has been detained or arrested.

TowBoatUS confirmed they were called to recover a boat of an unknown make and origin, but were also stopped by the surrounding fog. A representative with TowBoatUS said a crew will come up Thursday to retrieve the boat.

Some campers and dog walkers at El Capitan State Campground noticed the search.

"Probably 3 p.m. the fog rolled in, so we left the beach, but right before we were leaving the Sheriffs' came running down the beach and then up the other way and we were like what is going on ," said Tanya Campbell of San Clemente," and then they left and we didn't see them again but we did see a helicopter go over so we are like what is going on."."

The Gaviota Coast has a history of panga boats showing up along the coast. In 2021 two Mexican nationals were convicted on federal drug and human-smuggling charges after a panga boat landed on the Gaviota Coast.

This is an evolving situation and more information will be added to this article as it becomes available.