The 35-year-old set off alone from a boat ramp on Port Hacking Road in Dolans Bay at about 9am yesterday morning but never returned.

He was reported missing at 7pm last night and search crews found his six-metre boat unmanned off Port Kembla in the state’s Illawarra region a few hours later at 12.15am.

However there was no sign of the fisherman.

The search resumed at 8am this morning with water police, marine rescue and NSW surf life savers scouring the coast.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokesperson said four helicopters had also joined the search.

“AMSA is co-ordinating the aerial search this morning with four helicopters between Port Kembla and Jervis Bay, while officers from the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command are co-ordinating the water search,” the spokesperson said.