The deceased man was identified as Gregory Blanco, 41, of Northport in Suffolk County on Long Island, the Coast Guard said.
His unresponsive body was found at about 4 p.m. by Stratford police in the water south of Stratford.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Mr. Blanco during this painful time,” said Cmdr. Kevin Reed, Deputy Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound.
The Coast Guard launched its search after receiving a call at 8:30 a.m. Monday from a good Samaritan reporting an unmanned red 14-foot one-person kayak north of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground in the Sound.
The Coast Guard launched a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station New Haven and Eatons Neck.
The boatcrews found the kayak with personal items onboard. Markings on the kayak suggested the owner had departed out of the Northport area.
Suffolk County Police Department officials located Blanco's vehicle at the Soundview Boat Ramp Marina in Northport.
The shoal os in the middle of Long Island Sound about halfway between Port Jefferson, Long Island, and Bridgeport, Conn.
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