Spearfisher missing off Cape York

A search has been launched for a 33-year-old man who went missing while spearfishing off Cape York in Far North Queensland.

Police say the man's boat was seen on rocks at low tide at Portland Road near where he entered the water at about 11am on Thursday.

Police from Lockhart River travelled to the isolated site and conducted patrols of the shoreline and bushland.

A rescue helicopter conducted searches of the water and shore after dark but low cloud cover and poor visibility hampered search efforts.

Weipa SES personnel are due to arrive with a boat on Friday morning when an air, sea and land search will resume, with strong winds and rough seas forecast.