Investigators were told the 58-year-old man was cray-fishing off rocks near Childers Cove Road about 8.30pm last night.

It is believed a fellow fisherman went to join the man but was unable to locate him.

A search for the man by police and emergency services was commenced and ceased overnight, resuming early this morning.

The body of the local man was located in water about 6.20am and was retrieved by the airwing.

"He went missing around 8.30pm last night and was found at first light this morning," Warrnambool Sergeant Angela Fitzgerald said.

"Police and his son were on scene first thing, we couldn't look overnight due to the treacherous area and steep cliffs down to the water.

"They saw him from up high and had to get the search and rescue airwing to come down in order to retrieve his body."

The cause of the man's death is yet to be determined.

"It looks like he'd gone cray fishing with a friend, but they got separated," Sergeant Fitzgerald said.

"The pair were walking down a goat track that runs down the cliff into Childers Cove when the man is believed to have stopped to have a brief chat with some tourists there.

"The friend went down to start fishing and wondered what was taking his friend so long, about an hour later he called it in to police."

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