Mexican rescuers are searching for seven missing Americans whose boat capsized off the Baja California coast early Sunday morning.

Friends and family are still holding out hope that the men will be found alive. Fellow boater Gary Wong said he can still hear the cries of his friends.

"This guy who was yelling for help. 'Help me. Oh God, help me. Help me, oh God.' And the water was already up to about his head," Wong recalled.

Wong and 43 other men were on their annual Fourth of July fishing trip. But only 60 miles off the coast their boat capsized after being caught in an unexpected storm.

"Passengers were awakened by other passengers and crew members and alerted that the ship was sinking," said Charles Gibson, one of the survivors.

One man drowned and a search and rescue mission is underway to find the seven missing men.

The survivors were picked up after more than 16 hours of clinging to coolers, rescue rings, and life vests.

"Somewhere around 10ish last night, my husband called and said his boat was capsized and that he is fine. I was in shock," Murphy Ikegami said.

"They had life jackets on. They actually did have time to put on life jackets. So, that's a good thing. He's a strong swimmer, so I'm really glad," said Ya Ng, wife of one of the survivors.

The Mexican Navy says that there is still hope for the men that are still missing. They say a person can survive for days in the warm, calm Mexican waters.

Wong's brother is among the men still missing.

"We're not leaving till we find him. One way or another," he said.