Police hold little hope of finding a rock fisherman alive after he went missing from Port Kembla on Saturday.
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Marine Area Police Command resumed a search at 7am on Tuesday for Bankstown's Van Hai Tran.
The 66-year-old, who is of Vietnamese background and a father, came down to Hill 60 to fish on Saturday and has not been seen or heard from since.
Mr Tran's family members came looking for him on Monday and located his silver Toyota Kluger in the car park at Hill 60 and called police about 12pm.
A PolAir helicopter was in the air for about two hours and water police searched for eight hours before the resources were called it off when it got dark.
Lake Illawarra Police District Chief Inspector Paul Allman said the search would move into the recovery phase over the next couple of days.
"We have had a thorough search conducted by Marine Rescue and PolAir from Bellambi Point in the north to Bass Point in the south and five miles out to sea," he said.
"Unfortunately we have located some personal items on Tuesday to suggest the missing fisherman has entered the water. Our search will resume again on Wednesday."
Police found items of clothing including a jacket but no fishing equipment two miles out to sea between Bass and Flinders islands.
Insp Allman said the calming weather and seas conditions would help with the search.
Sydney police divers are expected to search the water for Mr Tran's body on Wednesday.
Marine Area Police Command officers met and liaised with Mr Tran's family at Port Kembla on Tuesday.
"It is quite sad circumstances," Insp Allman said. "The conditions over the weekend weren't favourable.
"We located the gentleman's motor vehicle and had that towed."
Police found nothing out of the ordinary in the car.
Insp Allman said Mr Tran was an "avid fisherman" who came to Port Kembla regularly.
He also had a message for people who wanted to fish in the region.
"Come, enjoy the Illawarra, go fishing but wear the proper gear, check the conditions, get a life jacket on, do it safely and go home to your family," he said. "A simple thing like a life jacket can make a big difference. We have seen life jackets work."
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