Worst feared for fishermen missing off WA

Hopes are fading for three fishermen missing off Western Australia's Pilbara coast.

Mason Carter, 26, Chad Fairley, 30, and 57-year-old Murray Turner failed to come back to Point Samson near Karratha in their 13-metre-long prawn trawler named the Returner on Wednesday morning as expected.

An unused life raft, emergency locator beacon, ration supplies and fishing gear washed up along the Burrup Peninsula the next day.

The air, land and sea search has been intensive, including the use of underwater sonar equipment.

Ths search is expected to resume at first light on Saturday.