Boat found in search for missing fisherman

An unmanned boat has been found in the search for a missing fisherman off south west Victoria.

The 65-year-old Warrnambool man set off alone from Port Fairy wharf to go gummy fishing on Wednesday afternoon, and was believed to have been headed southwest to Lady Julia Percy Island.

His family raised the alarm early on Thursday after he failed to return the previous night as planned.

Police say a boat was spotted by a helicopter, about 32 kilometres south of Warrnambool, on Thursday evening, but no one was on board.

It has been towed into Port Fairy and will be examined on Friday.

An air and sea search is due to resume at first light.