Senior Constable Murray Hewitson said the search efforts for Whetuki Sam Kopua (77), known as Sam, and Matekino Lucy Burling (60), known as Lou, would likely be called off after today's search ''unless something else comes to light''.
The sea conditions were ''pretty average'' yesterday, he said.
And boats did not take part in yesterday's search.
A dozen searchers searched half a dozen beaches over several hours, yesterday, he said.
Mr Kopua and Mrs Burling were reported missing by Mr Kopua's wife on Wednesday, about 6pm, when the pair failed to return from a fishing trip.
Fog and limited visibility prevented a helicopter equipped with a spotlight from locating Mr Kopua's 5.2m Kiwi Kraft boat, Kristala, in a two-hour search until 10.30pm that night.
The boat was spotted southeast of Nugget Point by a fixed-wing aeroplane involved in the search about 10am Thursday.
It was capsized and its anchor snagged, but the two Owaka ''identities'' were not found in the area.
Up to six boats, three inflatable rescue boats, a jet ski and 60 LandSAR members have been involved in the search that has stretched from Long Point in the Catlins to Dunedin.
A life jacket from the boat was recovered on Saturday on the coast between the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club and Lawyers Head, a drink bottle connected to the boat was found near the Clutha River mouths and a fishing rod with a baited hook was recovered in the search.
The GPS unit on Mr Kopua's boat stopped transmitting about 3km south of White Head, south of where the boat was launched, near Newhaven.
Anyone who finds, or might have found, an item that could be connected to the boat, or Mr Kopua and Mrs Burling, should contact Owaka police at (03) 419-1070.
