In short:

A major search is underway for a missing man after an unoccupied boat was found off the Gold Coast early on Friday morning.

Police say they were called on Thursday night after the boat the man was believed to have been on failed to return to Runaway Bay Marina.

What’s next?

Police are calling for anyone with information to come forward.

A major cross-border search is underway for a missing man after an unoccupied boat was found off the Gold Coast early on Friday morning.

Police said they were called about 7pm on Thursday when a black half-cabin pleasure craft the 44-year-old Hollywell man was believed to have been on, failed to return to Runaway Bay Marina.

A marina filled with boats.

Police were called on Thursday night after the boat failed to return to Runaway Bay Marina. (ABC News: Mark Rigby)

Water police searched the surrounding areas and seaways and tried to make contact with the boat over the radio.

It was found about 2am on Friday in waters 25 nautical miles — about 50 kilometres — south-east of the Gold Coast Seaway with no-one on board.

Senior Sergeant Shannon Gray said the boat was in good condition and there was no apparent reason the man was not onboard.

“The circumstances as to what happened in the boat are still unknown, and we may never know exactly what happened,” he said.

“Our priority at the moment is to continue searching for the man, and we’ll continue into the night, and we’ll continue again tomorrow morning.”

Police are calling for anyone with information to come forward.

A flight tracker of a plane flying in circles.

A rescue plane flew up from Essendon late on Thursday night. (Supplied: FlightAware)

Senior Sergeant Gray said the missing man was an experienced game fisherman with “a lot of marine experience”.

“The search area is extremely large, and at this point in time is starting to head down towards the Byron Bay area,” he said.

“It could be the case that he’s wearing a life jacket — we’re unsure — but that’s the best case scenario, and that will give him a better chance (of survival) if he’s in the water with that life jacket on.”

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority rescue plane flew from Essendon, in Melbourne, to the Gold Coast on Thursday night as part of the search.

It circled over waters off the coast for several hours before landing at Gold Coast Airport about 5am.

Marine Rescue Point Danger said its volunteers were assisting police in a multi-agency search for the man, with a crew setting off at 8:30am on Friday.

A view from inside a boat.

Marine Rescue Point Danger volunteers have helped with a multi-agency search. (Supplied: Marine Rescue Point Danger)

Inspector John Murray said conditions were calm offshore with light winds.

“Marine Rescue NSW will continue assisting the search until instructed otherwise,” he said.

“Overnight, volunteer radio operators at Marine Rescue Port Macquarie made several attempts to contact the vessel in question.

“Today, radio operators from the Point Danger unit are assisting with communications.”