Seventy percent of rock fishing fatalities occur during rough or very rough sea conditions, a report has found.

John Diplock, Recreational Fisheries Manager and member of the NSW Water
Safety Taskforce, says that where it was known how the deceased rock fisher
entered the water, in 94 per cent of cases it was due to a wave sweeping them off
the rocks. He offers anglers the following advice:

“ Knowing weather conditions and staying alert to any changes is critical in this sport”.


“ No matter how keen you are, never fish in exposed areas during rough or large
seas”.

“ Make sure you are aware of local weather, swell and tidal conditions before going
fishing. And be aware that conditions may change dramatically in a short period of
time”.

“ It is good to listen to the local weather forecasts, and to invest in a short wave radio to check marine forecasts for reliable weather information and weather updates every 20 minutes. Shortwave frequencies with marine bands broadcast “on the water reports” from boats already at sea who give advice on current sea conditions.”

“ A good habit to get into is to “observe first, fish later”. These simple tips can save lives.

“ It’s also a good idea to spend some time watching your intended spot before fishing to
get an idea of the conditions over a full swell or wave cycle”.

“ Wave conditions can get worse as the tide changes – so you should know whether
the tides are high or low and coming in or going out.”

Even the most experienced and responsible rock fishers have died while rock fishing
due to the inherent dangers of this activity and the unpredictable nature of the surf off
rocky shelves.

We at Bliz Lures strongly urge rock fishers to take the time each fishing season to review this as a refresher on safety tips.

Your life may depend on it!