Low tide helps in search for fisherman

Police said they hope low tide this afternoon will help in the search for a missing fisherman at Port Waikato.

Fa'amanuia Filipo, 28, from Manurewa, has been missing since midday yesterday.

Sergeant Adam Pyne said Mr Filipo was placing a set net with two friends 100m offshore when they got into difficulties in the channel.

Mr Pyne said Mr Filipo went under the water and never resurfaced.

"We will continue to search today and are hopeful low tide at around 3.45pm may assist us in the search for him," he said.

Police, Eagle helicopter, Search and Rescue squad members, and lifeguards from nearby Kariotahi Beach will continue the search.

Within two hours of the Port Waikato incident, two other fishermen in their 20s were swept out to sea at the Rangitaiki River mouth, north of Whakatane.

Police said they were using an inner tube to check a fishing net set earlier in the day when they got caught in a rip and were swept several hundred metres out to sea.

It took 30 minutes for police to locate a boat to rescue the two men, who could just be seen by people standing on the beach.

- NZPA