Search for missing fisherman on hold

The search for a Sydney fisherman who went missing in waters off Botany Bay two days ago has been suspended for the night.

Rescue crews took to the land, sea and air on Saturday to try and find the 37-year-old, who vanished on Thursday.

The Bankstown man, who's been named in the media as Tim Nguyen, was fishing with two friends in a small runabout when they were thrown into the water as the swell increased on Thursday evening.

Mr Nguyen's friends, aged 32 and 41, swam to shore and scrambled over rocks to safety before they were rescued.

They remain in a stable condition in hospital.

It's believed none of the three men were wearing life jackets.

A scaled-back search for the missing 37-year-old is set to resume at first light on Sunday.