NSW Game Fishing Association pays tribute to missing fisherman Paul Barning

Friends have paid tribute to a ‘loved and revered’ fisherman and father who has been missing since falling overboard during a fishing competition.

Theories a fisherman may have been taken by a shark when he fell overboard during a fishing competition has been slammed as friends remember the “loved and revered” man.

Paul Barning, 58, fell overboard at about 1pm on Sunday while taking part in the Game Fishing Association state tournament off the Port Stephens coast near Newcastle, sparking a major search effort.

The widescale search resumed at about 8am on Monday, but has as yet proven unsuccessful.

The NSW Game and Fishing Association paid tribute to Mr Barning in a statement, describing him as a “loved and revered” member of their community.

“Paul Barning, current secretary, past president and life member of Port Hacking Game Fishing Club was a highly experienced game fisherman,” NSW GFA president Steve Lamond said on Monday.

“He was tragically lost at sea in the most unlikely of circumstances while fishing on his boat ‘Dark Horse’ off Port Stephens on Sunday.

Paul Barning lost his life at sea on Sunday. Picture: Facebook.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Leonie, his son Sam and daughters Eleanor and Brigette in this trying time.

“We also have the crew and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

“To those participants of the tournament that assisted in the search efforts, we thank you.”

Mr Lamond also refuted unconfirmed reports a tiger shark or a great white may have been involved in the incident.

“Some reports you may have seen indicate he was attacked by a shark after falling overboard. This is fabricated and untrue news reporting,” Mr Lamond said.

Mr Lamond called the incident “an absolute freak tragedy”.

“There was definitely no shark attack as such involved,” he said.

“It was absolutely just an absolute freak tragedy that has occurred during the attempt to capture a fish.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Luke Wiseman said Mr Barning was on-board with three other people, with initial investigations centring on whether the man had become tangled in some of his line.

Marine Rescue NSW crews were on standby to assist in the search on Monday morning. Picture: Marine Rescue NSW.

He said Mr Barning appeared to be a “very competent fisherman”.

The three others on board managed to make their way to the Nelson Bay area about 10pm on Sunday, where they underwent welfare assessments from paramedics.

“They declined clinical assessments,” Mr Wiseman told Sunrise.

“We provided chaplain services to work with them and support them while they actually engage with NSW Police.”

A multi-agency search was launched with multiple helicopters on Sunday afternoon.

“Crews from Water Police, Lifesaver helicopter, and Marine Rescue NSW are responding to reports a person has disappeared after falling overboard from a recreational fishing vessel 55km off the Newcastle coast,” a NSW Police spokesman said.