Debris found in search for ‘much-loved father’ missing while fishing off Mindarie coast

Debris has been found in the search for a fisherman and father-of-two who failed to return from a solo fishing trip off Perth on Wednesday.

Rohan Wilson, 38, set out on a 6.4m boat about 8.30am Wednesday, and failed to return to shore by the expected time of 8pm that night.

His partner reported him missing about 9.30pm, and his family have described him as an “experienced fisherman”.

Police said debris found around 30 nautical miles west of Mindarie today cannot yet be positively identified, but appeared to match the description of an Esky on board Mr Wilson's boat. 

The search will now focus on an area just south of where the debris was found.

Mr Wilson’s family have released a statement describing him as a "much-loved husband and father of two young boys."

"He is a cherished grandson, son, brother and uncle," the statement read.

"He is an experienced fisherman who embraces the opportunity to get out fishing whenever he can." 

On Thursday, a police helicopter, Water Police, Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue Group vessels and AMSA’s Dornier search plane were deployed to assist in the search.

Yesterday, additional boats from Fremantle Sea Rescue and Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group joined the search when it resumed 30km off the coast of Mindarie.

Seventeen SES personnel, 10 police officers, two City of Joondalup staff and six quad bikes are undertaking a land search covering the shore line between Hillarys and Guilderton.

The search takes place less than two weeks after a shark killed 60-year-old diver Doreen Collyer about one kilometre off Mindarie.