The distraught friend being interviewed by rescuers.

The angler and a friend were fishing at Yellow Rock at Malabar when he disappeared about 9:30am on Saturday.

The friend told police he left the rocks for a few moments and when he returned his mate was gone.

Appearing distraught, the man told Surf Life Saving NSW crews he’d warned his friend about the hazardous weather conditions, according to footage obtained by the Seven Network.

The shocked friend told rescuers his bag and rod were missing. The friend had to be winched to safety himself, while authorities began their frantic sea search.

Emergency services are searching for the man swept off rocks at Malabar. Picture: Channel 9Source:Channel 9

Yellow Rock is considered one of the riskiest rock fishing spots in the state, SLS told the Seven Network.

Neither man was wearing a life jacket, which was made mandatory by Randwick council on December 1, Surf Life Saving NSW said.

“We were hoping the public spotlight on the need to now wear a life jacket may start to have an impact on the behaviour of rock fishers but sadly in this instance it may not be the case,” SLS’s Andy Kent said.

SLS is working with several police units and the Westpac Helicopter and to try to find the angler.