Police divers searching the Waimea Inlet for a missing Nelson fisherman have found a body.

A large scale search was underway this morning for 35-year-old Lian Van, who was fishing with friends when he got into trouble yesterday afternoon.

Inspector Ian McKenzie says the Police Dive Squad from Wellington located the body in the water near the Waimea River mouth at around 12:30pm.

He says they can't confirm at this stage if it's that of Lian Van.