luderick -angler Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Check these links out http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/7203870/search-for-fisherman-at-daybreak/ http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/missing-anglers-presumed-dead-police-20100510-uoxj.html A really sad tale! What more can be done to educate folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marley Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I just don't get it. I have always been taught to watch the water for at least 10-15mins before even starting to fish off the rocks plus all the other usual safety tips Certain ledges should only be fished in certain swells. You can order a free DVD at the below website. It is good on the basics of rock fishing My link gav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickster Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 In summer we see it every weekend. Inexperienced fishos with no idea that not every wave nor every day is the same. They see experienced people catching fish one day on a lower ledge and can't understand why no-one is fishing that same spot the next day or next week. Still they give it a go. It's NOT a dangerous sport for those that know what there doing, we don't take chances, just dangerous for those that don't. Compare it to driving on wet roads or driving at night, if you drive safely and within your limits there should be no problem. It's the same off the rocks. Simple rule: if you're not sure-you don't fish! Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customcasting Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I just don't get it. I have always been taught to watch the water for at least 10-15mins before even starting to fish off the rocks plus all the other usual safety tips Certain ledges should only be fished in certain swells. You can order a free DVD at the below website. It is good on the basics of rock fishing My link gav yep its no good . a lot do watch befor they fish ,but you can look for as long as you want, its no good if dont see what your look at , as most dont pick swells 500 meters out ,there is no such thing as freak wave if you see what your looking at ,once again its not the swell size its the direction that is a killer on the central coast ,e to ne 2 foot will do it , on the dvds they are a good help ,i carry a heap in my car r and keep a few in my fishing bag ,you see pepole walk out on the rocks with kids and no idea ,these are the ones i give them to ,not the adults but the kids as they will watch them and may put some seance into there pearents . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogie1 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Check these links out http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/7203870/search-for-fisherman-at-daybreak/ http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/missing-anglers-presumed-dead-police-20100510-uoxj.html A really sad tale! What more can be done to educate folks! it is disgusting that this is still happening. I grew up fishing these ledges and still do and i am dumb struck as to how people get washed off. Both of the areas are very high out of the water and the only way to get into trouble is to be doing something very dumb (fishing in big swell or in dumb spots). It is a tradgety what has happened but people need to take some care or the national parks will close these great fishing spots for all and noone wants that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floating_Medic Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 How many of you "experienced" rock fisho's wear life jackets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zook2001 Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I've been rockfishing for thirty five years and don't wear a life jacket, a life jacket don't make a dangerous spot safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customcasting Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I've been rockfishing for thirty five years and don't wear a life jacket, a life jacket don't make a dangerous spot safe. me too, been fishing these rocks for well over 35 years ,if you need a life jacket to make you fell safe you should not be on the rocks ,they look but dont see . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 This is a shocking tragedy. Please keep the posts respectful. Condolences to the families involved for their loss. mrsswordfisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abecedarian Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 I wouldn't call myself hugely experienced at rock fishing, but I do a bit of it. I've been soaked by waves before and knocked off my feet a couple of times fishing conditions that were a little rougher than I'd expected. Each time though, I packed up and moved to a safer spot. Even when you do your research and watch the waves you can from time to time be caught out. The difference is though, if you're sensible you're only likely to get wet, not dead... I wear a life jacket whenever there's a bit of swell, not because I feel I need it, but because it really isn't a hindrance and gives that little bit extra protection. You never know when you'll need it, and you'd be kicking yourself if you needed one and didn't have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steze Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 If theres a bit of a swell depending on how it starts to develop, i just go home. However, I don't really like the whole life jacket idea. Even if you were to fall in the water and you have a life jacket on. 1. It would be alot harder for you to move around in the water due to movement restrictions from a full inflated life jacket. 2. If there are big swells and waves and you're floating about, then wouldn't the waves smash you against the rocks ? But overall I agree that if you need a life jacket to go rockfishing then you shouldn't be on the rocks. I wouldn't even go near the rocks if I wasn't a confident swimmer. But hearing these stories is always sad and depressing. It is also very upsetting that certain people have to learn the hard way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebrewer Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 You can wear an inflatable and not deploy it unless it becomes necessary,eg,after swimming out if it's not safe to regain the platform,while waiting for rescue.$100 odd bucks is cheap life insurance.Anyone can have a lapse in judgement,overconfidence can be as dangerous as ignorance-I know a few experienced blokes who've been for an unplanned swim during the 40 years I've been rockfishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulthetaffy Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Firstly my condolonces to the families and friends of those that have been lost. You can wear an inflatable and not deploy it unless it becomes necessary,eg,after swimming out if it's not safe to regain the platform Couldn't agree more. I recently bought a PFD for kayaking and purposely went for a PFD 1 to I can use on the rocks too and only inflate it if necessary. Of course there's the risk of hitting your head and not being concious to pull the pin, but I don't have an answer for that. It's just my opinion that I think there's more chance of me being swept in conciously so would prefer to be in a safer position being able to swim and duck dive waves which I couldn't do with an inflated/foam PFD. There's news just breaking of a guy being swept off rocks at blue fish point too (he's injured, awaiting a chopper, but safe). I hope that these two events so close together don't cause a media / government frenzy attacking the safety of rock fishing . Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 (edited) .....You can wear an inflatable and not deploy it unless it becomes necessary,eg,after swimming out if it's not safe to regain the platform,while waiting for rescue.$100 odd bucks is cheap life insurance.Anyone can have a lapse in judgement,overconfidence can be as dangerous as ignorance-I know a few experienced blokes who've been for an unplanned swim during the 40 years I've been rockfishing. ....... Absolutely agree. There are self-inflating ones, which would be the better one to go for with rock fishing. If you hit your head on the way down, at least it will keep you floating face up. A very small price to pay for rock fishing & they are not invasive to yourfishing style at all (unlike the foam life jackets.) I have had one scary moment fishing the rocks here & now don't go on my own. Luckily, there was big rock behind me that I clung to (and another rock in front that took some of the force of the wave) as I just dropped my gear & hugged that rock! After that, I rigged up a rope with a rock climbing thingo (the little rock grippers bottom right) with the idea of wedging it into the rocks behind me & only having enough rope so that I couldn't go over the edge ......... but tripped over the rope on the first outing!! I don't rock fish much (if at all) these days. My other idea was to have some sort of 'car seat belt' setup, where you can walk forward & backwards, self retrieving as you go! If you get washed off, the seat belt 'brake' goes off & you just land on the ledge instead. Never set that up tho! If anyone wants to read of a particularly sad rock hopping story, PM me your email - & I will send it to you. If that doesn't make you more aware of what can happen, nothing will. Many of the people that die whilst rock fishing are extremely experienced. So don't assume that it couldn't happen to you. It could. Any rock fisher is at risk. There is a very simple method of avoiding the dangerous seas - If in doubt, don't!! Live to fish another day. They will still be there Cheers Roberta Edited May 11, 2010 by Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickster Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 How many of you "experienced" rock fisho's wear life jackets? Seems like a lot of us have been fishing the rocks for 35 years. I've never worn a life jacket/vest, not because i'm arrogant but because i won't fish if it looks a bit hairy. I never like to fish any spot thats side-on to the swell either as you can get blindsided. I agree there's no such thing as a freak wave, maybe just a larger set. Those of us that are experienced off the rocks can relate to the fact that you can actually hear a bigger wave. Sounds stupid but I'm certain others will agree. certainly is a tragedy to lose lives, we only hope it serves as a warning and saves some in the future. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zook2001 Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 After that, I rigged up a rope with a rock climbing thingo (the little rock grippers bottom right) with the idea of wedging it into the rocks behind me & only having enough rope so that I couldn't go over the edge ......... but tripped over the rope on the first outing!! I don't rock fish much (if at all) these days. My other idea was to have some sort of 'car seat belt' setup, where you can walk forward & backwards, self retrieving as you go! If you get washed off, the seat belt 'brake' goes off & you just land on the ledge instead. Never set that up tho! Cheers Roberta I visited WA a while back and roping off is increasing common over there, their version of National Parks and Wildlife even supply the pegs to tie to. Personally I've had my life saved by a life jacket whist canoeing but I'm far from convinced their a good idea rockhopping, in any case the manual inflation models are way overrated in a real emergency situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abecedarian Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 I don't agree with roping off. As mentioned before if you're paying attention you can see and hear big waves coming in. Roping off might stop you going in the water if a big wave hits, but it also stops you moving further back up the rocks to safety which is what you'd be doing if you were paying attention... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted May 12, 2010 Share Posted May 12, 2010 CHECK THIS POST Watch the ROCK SAFETY VIDEO on FISHRAIDER FISHTUBE mrsswordie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssymmetri Posted May 13, 2010 Share Posted May 13, 2010 wow. r.i.p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luderick -angler Posted May 14, 2010 Author Share Posted May 14, 2010 A varying setof replies and good ones a that as for myself and Dad we never wore lifejackets he always said you can't swim don't be on the rocks! He also aid if your gut instinct says theres something wrong or it does not feel right go elsewhere and lastly he said if its hairy or is geting hairy don't fish the spot or get off! I am still here and have had a few near misses fished with Rick on the rocks before today and he's right theres something about a big one that gets your attention you know it's coming! Take care all on the stones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NORBY Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 35 odd years ago, when it was made compulsory to wear a seat belt in a car, I bet plenty of people thought that it was an inconvenience and not necessary - how many lives has that saved ? Offshore anglers were recently made to spend $500 to buy an EPIRB - because of the small chance that something might go wrong Wearing of lifejckets when crossing a bar is also compulsory (it would be interesting to see the statistics of bar crossing fatalities V rock fishing fatalites ??? ) Wearing of life jackets when rock fishing is no different - it will save lives !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinman_zx10r Posted May 14, 2010 Share Posted May 14, 2010 R.I.P. Me personally I haven't done rock fishing at all, and probably wouldn't either just cause of all the dangers around. More people have died from rock fishing than any other sport ( Fact ) Please be safe out there guys no fish is worth your life Regards Thien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defyet Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Just heard on the radio there was a second incident, a 29yo guy died at bondi rock fishing last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 Just heard on the radio there was a second incident, a 29yo guy died at bondi rock fishing last night. http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjExMjMyLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE%3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rozza_b Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 (edited) sad to hear about all these people that get swept in, RIP, personally i have been fishing since i was a kid off the rocks with my dad, i dont understand why people who cant swim even consider fishing off the rocks and it worries me alot, with all the stories around why dont people ever learn, i have had my fair share of near misses off the rocks but as many have said before if you take your time to watch your surroundings and know a bit about the ocean then you can stay safe, doesn't take long to look around and see whats going on it could save your life. as for life jackets personally i wouldn't wear one, never have, my theory behind it is if i have to wear a life jacket to fish whatever ledge it is im fishing i really shouldn't be there but that's just my opinion each to there own. One thing i have always been taught and has always help to keep me safe was "never turn your back on the ocean" Edited May 16, 2010 by rozza_b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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