All nine men lost at sea near Kadavu are the sole breadwinners in their family.
Seven are married with children while another is expecting the birth of his first child next month.
Among the missing are a father and his three sons who failed to return from the fishing trip last week.
Distraught wife and mother, Miliakere Divadra, said alarm was raised when the group did not come back as expected.
Her husband, Osea Vakaruru, 56, and their sons Sitiveni Takivakatini, 27, Mateo Tikoitoga, 24, and Esekaia Boladuadua, 20, left home last Wednesday afternoon and were due back the next morning.
For Mrs Divadra, the waiting has become unbearable.
“I am also asking the people of Fiji to please keep my family and the men lost at sea in your prayers.”
Family members say she has struggled to sleep, holding onto the hope that the sea may still return them safely.
The missing also includes Savenaca Sokini, Lemeki Tikoitoga, 35, Pita, 35, Maciu Niubalavu, 29, and Julian Tavola, 23.
Search operations, led by the Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji with support from the Fiji Navy and police, continue despite rough seas and poor weather near Kadavu.
On the family’s concerns they had to wait 24 hours before lodging the missing person’s report, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe said police acted on the report straight away, coordinating with the Republic of Fiji Navy, assessing weather conditions before deploying search teams.
“We had to seek assistance from the navy as police do not have the capabilities to search in the open sea, and aerial searches were conducted also,” he said.
