Cruise ship crew spot body of missing Auckland fisherman

A cruise ship spotted the body of the missing fisherman in the Hauraki Gulf late last night. Photo / supplied

A fisherman's body was found in the waters of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf last night by a passing cruise ship.

The man was reported overdue from a fishing trip in The Hauraki Gulf on Tuesday morning, police said.

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust crewman Mark Cannell said a cruise ship sent out a distress call after the man was spotted in the water near Tiritiri Matangi Island, just after 8pm yesterday.

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Police Air Support, Coastguard Northern Region and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter responded to the call, he said.

Westpac rescue sent a rescue swimmer to help staff from the cruise ship tender.

"The person was transferred back to Auckland by a Coastguard vessel," Mr Cannell said.

Police said the fisherman's boat was found empty anchored near The Noises islands, northeast of Rakino Island, about 1pm yesterday.

The death has been reported to the Coroner.

Coastguard spokesman Ray Burge said the missing fisherman had set out from Westhaven Marina at 6am on Tuesday, and was supposed to return there within four hours. The Coastguard staff wasn't told until noon yesterday that he was missing.

Three coastguard vessels and the coastguard air patrol were sent out to search. Police were also involved, Mr Burge said.

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