The boat belonging to a fisherman who has been reported missing near Whangapoua has been located.

At 2pm, Christmas Day, a private vessel came across the missing boat named Tubby, approximately 24 nautical miles off the coast of Whitianga.

No one was located on board and the boat is in the process of being recovered.

The search operation for the man, in his fifties, continues this afternoon, involving a Coastguard fixed-wing plane and Coastguard vessels from Whitianga and Great Barrier Island.

The man was reported to have left in his boat from the Whangapoua boat ramp at about 9am on Friday.

He was expected back on Friday afternoon but failed to return.

Anyone who can provide information about sightings of the boat from 9am on Friday, or who locates any items of interest that may be related, is asked to contact 111 and quote event file number P04906827.

Whangapoua. Image: Google Maps.

Earlier 9.30am: A search is continuing on Christmas Day for a man overdue from a fishing trip near Whangapoua.

The man left in his boat from the Whangapoua boat ramp at about 9am on Friday.

He was expected back Friday afternoon but failed to return.

A search including Coastguard vessels, a Coastguard fixed-wing plane and the Auckland-based Westpac Rescue 3 helicopter failed to locate the man yesterday.

The search operation resumed this morning utilising the Police Eagle helicopter, a Coastguard fixed-wing plane and Coatguard vessels from Whitianga and Great Barrier Island.

The missing boat, named Tubby, is described as a white coloured 6-metre long 'Mac' centre console plastic boat with no top.

Anyone who can provide information about sightings of the boat from 9am yesterday, or who locates any items of interest that may be related, is asked to contact 111 and quote event file number P04906827.