By Emma Young `
Police on Wednesday continued their search for fisherman Norman Bale, who went missing five days ago while mud-crabbing off the Pilbara coast.
A recreational fisherman found Mr Bale's dinghy on Tuesday, half-submerged on the west side of Dixon Island.
Two Army zodiac vessels will continue to search the shoreline from Nickol River north east towards Cape Lambert.
When tides allow, two State Emergency Service teams will search mangroves to the east of the island.
Mr Bale’s boat was recovered on Tuesday.
The search areas were determined using analysis of drift patterns, a police spokeswoman said.
Mr Bale, 52, set off alone from Back Beach boat ramp, five kilometres east of Karratha, about 5pm on Friday.
Witnesses told police he might appeared to have trouble with his boat engine before setting off.