Sonar crews to examine sunken Qld trawler

Specialist sonar crews will scour the underwater wreck of a prawn trawler that could contain the bodies of two missing Queensland fishermen.

Bundaberg pair David Chivers, 36, and Matt Roberts, 60, have been missing since the early hours of Monday morning when their boat capsized off the east coast of Fraser Island some time before sunrise.

An extensive search failed to find any trace of the men.

A Queensland Police spokesman says it is likely they were trapped on board.

The wreck, believed to be 40m underwater, is beyond the reach of divers, with sonar crews from Brisbane called in to pinpoint its location.

The process could take "several days", with crews working under direction of the coroner.

"It also depends on the weather ... and wind conditions whether we can send equipment down," the spokesman said.

The air and search for the two men was scaled back on Tuesday, with rough seas keeping boats moored.

Markwell Fisheries, which owns the trawler, hired a private plane to look for the experienced fishermen.

On Wednesday, the company's general manager Richard Brown told AAP it was likely the boat's nets became tangled on an underwater obstacle, causing it to overturn.

Patrols of Fraser Island's northeastern beaches continue after debris was found washed ashore earlier in the week.