An extensive search for the 57-year-old Canberra man yesterday and today failed to find any trace of him, and he is now presumed drowned.

He was last seen about 8.30am yesterday, fishing off rocks about 300 metres west of Haycock Point in Eden.

About 2.30pm a witness who was also fishing in the area noticed fishing equipment on the rocks unattended and called police, who started a search.

The missing man’s car was found in a nearby carpark.

Surf lifesavers from Pambula and Tathra, Marine Rescue, Water Police and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter conducted a search but found nothing.

Surf lifesavers battled 2.5 metre waves while searching cliff faces, beaches and the ocean until the search was initially abandoned about 8.30pm last night.

The search resumed at 8am today and Surf Life Saving duty officer Andrew Edmunds said conditions were still challenging.

‘‘There was a large 2 metre swell, and a strong wind, but visibility was pretty good on the ocean,’’ he said.

Police divers will begin searching for the man’s body later this week.The missing fisherman was on his own and not wearing a lifejacket.

“Rock fishing is the second highest cause of drowning in NSW,” Mr Edmunds said.

“It is an incredibly risky sport, and Surf Life Saving always recommends people wear a lifejacket and take simple precautions such as having a mobile phone, an EPIRB and fishing in a group.’’

Mr Edmunds said there had been seven drownings this season on the Far South Coast, which stretches from Bawley Point to the Victorian border.

“Many of these could have been avoided by either wearing lifejackets or swimming at patrolled beaches,’’ he said.