Search for fisho reduced

QUEENSLAND police have scaled down a major rescue operation for an avid fisherman missing off the Townsville coast for four days.

Colin Palmer, 41, and his friend, 45, were out boating at Cleveland Bay when a wave suddenly knocked them both overboard on Friday night.

The pair were unable to get back to their boat and they tried to swim towards shore but became separated in the darkness.

Mr Palmer and his 4m boat have not been seen since.

His friend was rescued after a commercial fishing vessel spotted him in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Air, land and sea search parties swept across Cleveland Bay, Palm Island and Magnetic Island over the weekend.

Authorities announced the search would be scaled back on Tuesday due to reduced resources.

“The search for missing fisherman Colin Palmer will continue tomorrow with a reduced number of resources,” a police statement said.

Senior Sergeant Robert Dusha said authorities were stilling “holding out hope” of finding Mr Palmer.