ROCKFISHING – Wear the right gear!

Flotation aids were not used by any of the more than 74 people who died rock fishing between 1992 and 2000, a report has found.

The report, by the NSW Water Safety Taskforce, found that 77 per cent of the
deceased did not use any form of personal protection or safety equipment.

And only one in five wore proper footwear.

Stan Konstantaras, safety officer of the National Sporting Fishing
Association said wearing a life vest or flotation aid was critical.

“ Many rockfishers believe that just because they can swim, they will be able to save
themselves if they fall into the water,” he said.

But the research shows that this is not the case.

Of the 57 fatalities where swimming ability was known, an alarming 77 per cent were
identified as being able to swim.

“ We found that the ability of a person to swim after a rock fishing incident may be
affected by a number of factors”.

“ These include injuries suffered when being hit by a wave or dragged over rocks, and
the difficulty of swimming in waves and white water”.

“ Inappropriate footware and clothing, the effects of panicking,and the water temperature
through which hypothermia may result in loss of muscle control and disorientation
which can drastically reduce the ability of a person who could normally swim well to stay afloat”.

“ This is where a lifejacket can really save lives.”

Wearing the proper footwear is also important!

“ Cleats, such as Korkers, sandals, and sandshoes with non slip soles suit different surfaces”.

Use the appropriate footware for the conditions where you plan to fish.
Also, wear light clothing such as shorts when possible… and a spray jacket.
This will enable you to swim more readily if you are washed in. Waders may be
heavy and difficult to take off if they are improperly worn. Always use a belt to firmly secure waders as a safety measure to prevent them from filling with water in case of emergency situations.

We at Bliz Lures strongly advise fishermen to take an annual refresher course on fishing safety. Don’t put your life at risk for your love of the sport!