One of the two fishermen missing at Slope Point since Sunday afternoon is a young family man ''who always has a smile on his face''.
A family friend, who asked not to be named, said the man is in his late 20s and has only recently had his second child with his partner.
He described the situation for family and friends as ''very distressing''.
His comments came as police last night confirmed the marine search for the two missing fishermen had been called off, although LandSAR staff would continue combing the coastline tomorrow.
Coastguard Bluff vice-president Glen Wilcox said searchers on Coastguard vessels and fishing boats had covered a ''huge'' area again yesterday, helped by good conditions.
''Three days into a search, we'd hold grave concerns for the missing, that's for sure.
''Until something changes, I think we've done what we can.''
The farm worker from northern Southland, near Riversdale, is one of two men missing after being swept off rocks while fishing at Slope Point in the Catlins on Sunday afternoon.
No details were available on the second fisherman, although he is believed to be from Tapanui.
The extensive marine and coastal search resumed for the third day yesterday, after witnesses on Sunday reported seeing the men in the water after previously seeing them fishing from the rocks.
The young father from Riversdale was described by his family friend as ''strong, wiry and energetic'', and always willing to help people out.
A keen river and ocean fisherman, and rugby player for Balfour, the missing man works as a dairy farm hand, where his experience and ''can-do'' attitude are often called upon for a wide range of tasks.
Because the missing man's rural community was ''close-knit'', local people were walking around ''like zombies'' due to worry, the friend said.
''It's horrible to think about.
''If it's the worst, he won't get to see his kids grow up, or one day his grandkids. It's just very sad for his family, and the community as a whole.''
The search for the two men has involved rescue helicopters from Queenstown and Dunedin, rescue swimmers, the Bluff Coastguard, a Bluff Harbour pilot vessel, Catlins and Dunedin water rescue teams, and three Southern region land search and rescue groups.
Bad weather and poor visibility forced police to scale back the initial search on Sunday night.
But after again being hampered by swells of 4m and high winds on Monday, conditions yesterday were described as ''close to perfect'' by Bluff Coastguard officials.
A marine search resumed at 10am, and land and coastal searches at low tide yesterday afternoon, covering about 20km of coastline and ocean from Waipapa Point to Curio Bay.
Slope Point, the southernmost point of the South Island, lies south of Waikawa and Haldane, near the southwestern edge of the Catlins, 71km east of Invercargill.
Police said yesterday they would be ''unlikely'' to release names until search activities were formally ended.
