A Tasmanian man has gone missing after leaving a campsite to go kayaking late in the night, a move his friends have described as "out of character".
Search and rescue efforts have been going since late Friday night two hours after Andrew Donohue left to go fishing off the state's northwest coast at Perkins Island at 8.30pm.
His empty black and blue kayak was found on Saturday morning by searchers, which have included marine police, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, local police, fixed-wing aircraft, ground search and rescue crews, and civilians.
Acting Inspector Stewart Williams said there were strong winds at the time Mr Donohue set out and the rough weather had persisted until well into Saturday, blowing anything on the water out east.
"He didn't indicate (why he was going fishing) to his friends prior to doing it," Insp Williams said.
"It was a bit of a surprise to the people he was camping with that he did go out on a kayak. A little bit out of character, I'm informed.
"We always hold hope ... obviously there's some concerning circumstances involved, given the weather, the fact he wasn't wearing a (personal locator beacon)."
Mr Donohue also did not take his mobile phone with him.
Alcohol doesn't appear to be a factor at this point, Insp Williams said, while describing Mr Donohue as an experienced diver who knew the area well.
"There's a possibility that he's made it to the coast and we're certainly hoping that's the case," Insp Williams said.
Search efforts would continue into Saturday night and Sunday.
The search follows police divers at Great Lake on Friday discovering the body of a 50-year-old Sheffield man, who was on a solo fishing expedition at Boundary Bay when his boat floated away and he disappeared.
