Three missing New South Wales fishermen, aged 66, 67, and 74, were found dead off South Australia’s Limestone Coast near Beachport after failing to return as expected.

The discovery was confirmed on Monday morning, with the first report published shortly before 8:38am and an update issued at 8:40am.

Strong winds, with gusts up to about 32 km/h, were present around the time they were due back, potentially affecting conditions at sea.

A major operation involving police, water police, PolAir, the SES, and aerial crews was mobilized to locate the trio.

The men were anticipated back at Beachport around 2:30 pm on Sunday, triggering a large-scale search when they did not arrive.

The bodies were recovered by Monday morning, confirming the fatalities.

Beachport, a popular fishing spot known for its 772-meter jetty, is near where the incident occurred.

The report originates from The Sydney Morning Herald and is filed under national news.

While the page includes navigation and unrelated links, the central fact remains the discovery of the three fishermen.