A search has resumed for a fisherman who is believed to have been swept off rocks at the Kiama Blowhole last evening.

Emergency services were called to the Blowhole following reports a man in the water had failed to resurface.

Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District were told the man, believed to be aged in his 70s, had been rock fishing before being swept off the rocks.

Police, with assistance from officers attached to Marine Area Command, Kiama SLSC and the NSW Ambulance helicopter conducted a coordinated search without success.

Marine Rescue searched south of the area for two hours before the search was suspended at 9.30pm.

Today's search will also have assistance from police divers and PolAir.

In 2020 Surf Life Saving Australia called on rock fishers to wear a lifejacket, as statistics revealed one in four cannot swim or are weak ocean swimmers.