Rock Fishing.

[stormy]

Wrote a report on a session I had off the rocks, a couple of weeks back - http://www.fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.php?showtopic=59119 - and got to thinking about safety and education. It is irrefutable that the vast majority of fatalities of late, have been folks of Asian descent. This is not rascist in the least, but a fact. Is education or legislation the answer. I personally hope that it is the former, rather than the latter. The Asian couple I spoke of in the report, certainly appreciated my comments at the time, however they are still fishing the identical setup and clothing. I shudder to think what would happen if either of them fell in.

When I was in my teens, I did the Bronze Cross and Bronze Medallion in lifesaving, which entailed a swim of 50m from memory, dressed in long pants and long sleeved shirt. Managed that without too much difficulty, bit I am not 18 any more.

When I was a bit older, I used to surf Cronulla Point, Shark Island, Voodoo and a load of other places up and down the coast, where I jumped in off rock platforms and also got back out on the same platforms. Same with spearfishing. I am not 25 any more.

When I was in the Water Police, I could swim a klm or more, no problems. I got in a pool a couple of years back and was gasping for breath and fatigued beyond expectation after only 100m. I am not 35 any more.

I have been rock fishing for over 40 years now and have gone from scungies(budgie smugglers) and cleated sandshoes, to boardshorts, sleeved fishing shirt, hat and cleated sandshoes. I am not as thin as I used to be and the embarrassment factor plays a part in my current dress sense, as does fashion

Anyway, back on track. I was watching my old mate Bob the other day, and saw him catch a cleat on a barnacle or something, and stumble and almost fall. Had this been accompanied by a swell hitting his legs, he almost certainly would have gone A over T. I have been thinking, none of my group are as young and sure footed, fit and healthy or as capable as we used to be and should we be wearing some sort of PFD when fishing off the ocean rocks. I have a couple of inflatable yoke type jackets in my boat, but they would still be slightly cumbersome off the rocks. Problem solved. Yesterday I bought a pair of Stearns, inflatable PFD1 belt jackets. They are just like wearing a bum bag (on the front, so should they be called b@#* - oh never mind)or a bait bag. If you do happen to end up in the drink, you just pull the tag and poof, instant life jacket. These will not help you if you knock yourself out, but many victims of drownings off the rocks, seem to be seem swimming and treading water for some time before being lost. A cheap, unobtrusive bit of safety gear, which I will be wearing from now on, when fishing off the rocks. I gave Bob one as well. Something to think about, for those of you who are too good to be swept in or stumble and fall in. I know I am, but hey, I have lived on this earth longer than I am going to so why not be safe than sorry.

[abecedarian]

I agree 100%, a life jacket won't necessarily save your life but it will certainly help. And they're hardly an inconvenience nowadays they're so compact.

One thing I think is worth mentioning is that not all rock cleats/shoes are created equal. I used to use a pair of bolt on cleats that I put in a pair of shoes. While they provide huge grip when force is applied to the front and back, they do bugger all when the force comes from the side. After being bowled over twice by very small swell hitting the sides of my legs I threw them out and bought a pair of mirage rock boots. Never had a hint of a problem since! That said the next set I'll get will be an over-shoe set that look like a pair of ice climbing crampons. They look good and I don't have to carry extra shoes.

[stormy]

Yeah, I have some spiked boots as well. Cost $140 and wore them for 30 mins. Too narrow for my plates of meat. I brace at 45 deg when a wave comes in hard. The spikes are good, but so are the old cleats.

Anyone want to buy a pair of size 10 boots. Price reduction.

Edited November 18, 2011 by stormy