A police helicopter is continuing to help the search for a fisherman missing at a West Auckland beach.
Bethells Beach, west of Auckland, where a man went fishing on Saturday before being reported missing by his son. Photo: 123rf
Search and Rescue teams, life guards and a police Eagle helicopter have been searching Bethells Beach for Korean man Myung Kang.
Myung Kang Photo: Supplied
The 57-year-old went fishing on Saturday and his family reported him missing on Sunday night.
A search was launched and the police found his 2011 white Toyota Prius still at the Bethells Beach car park.
Searchers resumed at 6am today, sweeping the shoreline at low tide from its southern end to the tip of neighbouring O'Neill Bay.
Police said the eagle helicopter would continue searching the sea and surrounding beaches over the next few days.
Detective Senior Sergeant Callum McNeill has urged anyone who may have seen Mr Kang to contact police.
"Saturday was a hot day and a large number of people took the opportunity to spend some time at Bethells Beach, so we are hopeful that someone has seen Mr Kang with his fishing gear," he said.
"Police appreciate that this is a very difficult and worrying time for Mr Kang's family and we are providing them with support."
Local cafe worker Taylor Groves said it was a busy time for the beach.
"You see people everyday, there seems to be people fishing here everyday. Some pretty professional, well-set-up looking people and then some kind of more casual hobbyists."
Local surfer Harvey said Bethells Beach and O'Neill Bay were popular spots.
"You don't get a lot of guys fishing off the beach round there, it's mostly they go straight to the rocks, there's a kind of shelf they all stand on. I think there's a permanent lifesaver there, like a ring, they can toss into the water if someone gets into strife.
While he surfed there most weekends, Harvey said it could be dangerous.
"They're nice places to come and go swimming but you've got to be aware that the west coast is a bit raw, you've got to watch your back sort of thing. O'Neill Bay there's no lifeguards there so you're on your own and you can get into trouble pretty quickly there."
Bethells Beach/Te Henga is located on Auckland's west coast, north of Piha. Photo: Google