Father dies in NSW fishing incident

Investigators say it remains unclear how an elderly man died while fishing with his son on NSW's mid-north coast.

The pair was at a popular river fishing spot in Tuncurry on Tuesday morning, when the son went to run errands, a Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman told AAP.

When he returned about 11.30am, he found his 75-year-old father face down in the water.

"It's unclear whether he suffered a medical episode or fell and hit some rocks," the spokesman said.

An off-duty lifeguard and paramedics tried to revive the man, who police say died under non-suspicious circumstances.

Investigations into the incident continue.