The search for a five-year-old boy feared drowned on the NSW Central Coast is being scaled back with rescuers failing to find any sign of the boy.

Chayce Kofe was playing with relatives on the shoreline at Pearl Beach on Thursday afternoon when a large wave swept him into the ocean.

It is understood he struggled behind the break for a short time as people on paddle boards tried to reach him.

A full-scale search involving helicopters, police divers and surf lifesavers on Thursday afternoon and throughout Friday failed to find the young boy.

Police concede the operation has moved to body recovery.

The boy’s father Daniel Kelly pledged on Facebook to find his son “or die trying”.

“Daddy is so sorry son … I luv [sic] you forever Chaycee,” Mr Kelly posted.

“It would never of happened if I was (there). It’s just not fair and I can’t handle dat [sic] my son has been ripped away from me and I have no control over da [sic] outcome.”

In a post on Facebook, Chayce’s aunt Wella Kupu spoke of her family’s heartbreak.

“I may have only held you in my arms for a moment… but I will hold you in my heart forever,” Ms Kupu wrote.

“Heading to Umina to be with my family. May the Lord give us strength today.

“Bring our little Chayce home to us.”

The search resumed at 8am on Saturday, with police divers and boats scouring the seas.

But a police spokeswoman told AAP the search is likely to be scaled back on Sunday.

“We’ve searched where we’ve hoped we would find the child and we haven’t (found him),” she said.

“If we don’t find him today, we would have to scale back the resources pending more information.”

Chayce, who lived on the NSW Central Coast, was holidaying with extended family in the coastal hamlet.

His distraught mother arrived at the scene on Friday.