SWAMPSCOTT — Police this morning said the search was to resume today for a kayaker who went missing in the choppy waters off Swampscott Saturday afternoon.

The extensive search was triggered yesterday afternoon when the 22- or 23-year-old kayaker did not show up when he was expected to, Swampscott police Lt. Paul Bartran said.

Last night, the blue kayak with a paddle with yellow oars could be seen sitting on Eisman's Beach with police and some onlookers standing nearby. A group of onlookers near the kayak declined comment when asked about what was going on.

Bartram said police and others were at the beach all night, and the Coast Guard was set to resume its search today.

Police received a call around 6 p.m. that the man went missing, after leaving the shore on Sculpin Way, in the vicinity of Swampscott Harbor and Fishermans Beach. The kayak turned up on Eisman's Beach, on the opposite side of Lincoln House Point from where he reportedly departed.

A Coast Guard helicopter hovered over the waters of Eisman's Beach last night, using search lights to search the rocks along Eisman's Beach, and Marblehead and Swampscott harbormaster boats also responded. Police and fire officials were also on scene. When it began to rain hard around 9 p.m., the helicopter stopped its search.