Fishing vessels pulled from search for two fishermen in deep south due to high winds, four-metre swells

Police have withdrawn the three commercial fishing vessels involved in the search for two fishermen missing off rocks at the bottom of the South Island due to high winds and four-metre swells.

The alarm was raised by people nearby around 4.20pm yesterday that the two men appeared to have been swept off rocks near Slope Point Road, on the island's south eastern coast.

Four inflatable rescue boats have completed their shoreline search so have finished for the day, police said in a statement at about 3.45pm.

A helicopter continues with air searches of the area while the LandSAR team will continue on foot until low light, they said.

Police said they will continue to monitor sea and wind conditions throughout the day.