A major search is resuming for a fisherman, who went missing off the Sunshine Coast late yesterday afternoon.

Two men were fishing from a jet ski off Mudjimba Island when the craft began taking on water.

Senior Sergeant Matt Campbell said the Mooloolaba man got into the water to try and fix the craft but was unable to climb back on, and his friend tried to tow him back to shore while he clung to the back, but he disappeared from sight.

“The conditions were quite calm. What’s contributed to the situation is that the gentlemen involved had trouble with their jet ski and appears to have gone into the water from that point and that’s where we’ve initiated a search,” Senior Sergeant Campbell said.

“They’ve tried to come into shore with the missing person holding on to the jet ski, but unfortunately with the distance that they’ve come, somewhere in the journey he’s come off.”

David McLean from the Marcoola Surf Life Saving Club said lifesavers were providing jet skis and boats, while water police and the coast guard were also involved in the search, as volunteers combed the shoreline.

“We have managed to get our drone up … we have done an initial search of the last known location,” Mr McLean said.

“Basically it varies between the island and Twin Waters life guard station where the jet ski was beached.”

Mr McLean said the friend who was driving the craft was devastated.

“The police have spoken to the gentleman concerned and he’s quite distraught … he’s been here the whole time searching for his friend as well,” he said.

“They were good friends and as I said he’s been distraught and we’re all feeling for him and the family. “

He said the pair were well equipped when they set out on their fishing trip yesterday morning, but the missing man took off his lifejacket at some point.

“It’s difficult to swim with a life jacket. He’s either checking under the ski to see if the bungs were in and at some stage has taken the life jacket off and it’s a terrible situation,” he said.

Mr McLean said some of the 30 volunteer searchers had found items on the shore, including a t-shirt and GoPro camera, although neither were believed to be linked to the missing man.

-ABC