Search continues for fisherman swept from rocks at Sydney beach

A search has resumed for a rock fisherman who has been missing from a southern Sydney beach for more than 24 hours.

Police said the 29-year-old Guildford man was angling with a friend on a rock ledge at Malabar beach when he disappeared about 9.30am yesterday.

His friend, aged 31, had to be winched from the rock ledge by a rescue helicopter.

He had told police he left the rocks for a few moments and when he returned his companion was gone.

A rescue boat retrieved some of the missing man's personal items and fishing gear from the water, Surf Life Saving NSW said today.

Police divers have joined local police, the police marine area command, police helicopters and Surf Life Saving members for the second day of the search.

Neither men were wearing a life jacket, despite new laws making the jackets mandatory for rock fisherman in Randwick area.