Rock fishing legislation

[NAGG]

With what appears to be yet another drowning of a NSW rock fisherman - Is it time that the state governments legislate that an approved life preserver be worn by any one participating in what is Australia's most dangerous pass time ?

Rock fishing is the most dangerous sport in Australia. More people are killed participating in this sport ( for want of a better word ) than any other outdoor leisure activity. edit here by Lucky_Phill. Moderator.

[krazyfisher]

how would you tell between rock fishing and fishing on a rock? if you know what I mean.

[NAGG]

Straight up - I'm going to say yes !

Being an old rock fishoe from way back , spending many years on the rock ledges of NSW ..... I would have used an inflatable yolk if one was available ( regardless of laws)
Rock fisherman are often some of the silliest people I've ever met - totally clueless ! Fishing in conditions that are outright dangerous , wear the wrong clothing ( I've seen overalls & steel capped boots) , often fishing alone , dont watch the conditions or tide & worst of all ....... often cannot swim.

These days you require a license to fish in NSW & if you venture out in a boat you need certain safety gear. If you ride a push bike you are required to wear a helmet !
What's the difference :undecided:


Chris

[PaulMark]

With you on that Chris,PFD 1 minimum.If you get washed off and bash your head at least you have half a chance.Its no different to any extreme sport and inflatable yolks are available these days for very reasonable outlay.There is I'm afraid a bit of machismo to overcome.To be honest you've got your life on sale for a bargain price IMHO.
Paulo

[bennykenny]

how would you tell between rock fishing and fishing on a rock? if you know what I mean.

i was thinking the same thing, where do you start the law where the sand meets the beach, or past the breakers. Are we just going to over legislate like everything else, personal safety is a personal responsibility. i have been a rock fisherman since i was a teenager,when i was living down south, fishing some of the most dangerous rock platforms on the south coast of NSW, when i would arrive at my fishing destination i would sit for 15-20 mins and just watch what the ocean was doing and while i was waiting i would plan an escape route, so if i did happen to get washed in i would be able to get out, and most of all if the swell was to big, forget about the fishing.Now im not saying that its a bad idea, its a bloody good one, to wear PFDs but you cant protect everyone with legislation. cheers BK

[NAGG]

i was thinking the same thing, where do you start the law where the sand meets the beach, or past the breakers. Are we just going to over legislate like everything else, personal safety is a personal responsibility. i have been a rock fisherman since i was a teenager,when i was living down south, fishing some of the most dangerous rock platforms on the south coast of NSW, when i would arrive at my fishing destination i would sit for 15-20 mins and just watch what the ocean was doing and while i was waiting i would plan an escape route, so if i did happen to get washed in i would be able to get out, and most of all if the swell was to big, forget about the fishing. cheers BK

BK - you are one of the experienced / sensible ones ....... your approach was just like mine :smiley: but having said that , I was bowled over 3 times but because of my chosen locations & watching conditions ..... all I lost was some bark! :sad: - However regardless of experience even the best get into trouble ( I personally know of 2 experienced fishoes who drowned fishing the stones)

Now - just maybe this is one of those sports with such a high risk that there does need to be some legislation - 6 drowned in 1 week ( yellow rock at Malabar has claimed well over 100 anglers over the years)

I guess my start point would be any location that is exposed to ocean swells

Chris

[rockfisho]

I Voted a No!!. Where does commonsense come into this, If you dont have it, you shouldnt be rockfishing. Similarly what defines "rockfishing". Can rock fishing be standing on a concrete jetty in the river?

Foam Life jackets are bad, inflatable ones are by far the best. The foam ones (ones i have called life jackets) inhibit your ability to move rather seriously, and can slow you down swimming, or prevent you being able to dive under a wave if need be.

I'm both a keen surfer and rockfisho, and obviusly know that the waves are least powerful if you go down underneath them, that is the best way to get away from teh rocks, if you float, you are likely to be washed back onto them.

Just as an example, The number of times ive seen fellas drinking a six pack while rockhopping on fraser island, dont know what the hell they are thinking thats for sure...

Owen

[NAGG]

I Voted a No!!. Where does commonsense come into this, If you dont have it, you shouldnt be rockfishing. Similarly what defines "rockfishing". Can rock fishing be standing on a concrete jetty in the river?

Foam Life jackets are bad, inflatable ones are by far the best. The foam ones (ones i have called life jackets) inhibit your ability to move rather seriously, and can slow you down swimming, or prevent you being able to dive under a wave if need be.

I'm both a keen surfer and rockfisho, and obviusly know that the waves are least powerful if you go down underneath them, that is the best way to get away from teh rocks, if you float, you are likely to be washed back onto them.

Just as an example, The number of times ive seen fellas drinking a six pack while rockhopping on fraser island, dont know what the hell they are thinking thats for sure...

Owen

UN-COMMONSENSE ..... is more applicable for plenty of rock fishoes !

A yolk is by far the best option IMO - so its why it would need to be an approved model
I recently read a report on drownings over a 10 year period & 80% of those were conscience while in the water prior to going under - so I would imagine that a vest would have saved around 60 people !

[deepfried]

No for me but that is because i see no real need for it up here on the far north coast of NSW where i fish. It may be appropriate for the ledges down south but i think education is far more important than legislation in this case. If i saw a need for one i would wear it even if it wasnt legislated but that again comes back to knowledge of the circumstances and conditions.

What happens if legislation is put in place and people still die doing what they love and what really is their choice by going rock fishing ? Do we then ban the sport.

[PNG1M]

What if it became law and you went for a bit of a low-key fish off a very safe gently sloping rock platform at the end of surfing beach, on a calm day with zero swell and you got fined for not wearing one? That'd be a pisser...

[Steeler]

You can't legislate against stupidity.The conditions of late in those areas have not been akin to safe fishing.

[4x4frog]

With out putting to finer point on it, the families of both tragedies have been of Aisan extraction. Many of the drownings and rescues on Bondi Rescue are for people of similar backgrounds. It's commonly known they are not usually strong swimmers and I think this is an area that needs careful attention. Teach them to swim mandatory as we do or try to do with our children or fine them heavily if they are rescued because they couldn't swim. Harsh, maybe but you need to start somewhere.
Possibly get them to prove they can swim for a fishing licence?

[mitch92]

Now - just maybe this is one of those sports with such a high risk that there does need to be some legislation

But this is the very same problem everybody complains about. Being in an over-legislated bubble-wrapped world where everybody else is to blame, so the governments keep making legislation, then people complain again.

Common Sense, nuff' said.

Mitch

[mitch92]

And the other thing is having ya wits about you. Knowing what is going on around you is part of fishing IMO. Seeing a bigger wave heading at you, noticing something not quite right, Knowing the surroundings, then using common sense to decide if it safe, or if you need to drop and run etc.

Mitch

[bennykenny]

With out putting to finer point on it, the families of both tragedies have been of Aisan extraction. Many of the drownings and rescues on Bondi Rescue are for people of similar backgrounds. It's commonly known they are not usually strong swimmers and I think this is an area that needs careful attention. Teach them to swim mandatory as we do or try to do with our children or fine them heavily if they are rescued because they couldn't swim. Harsh, maybe but you need to start somewhere.
Possibly get them to prove they can swim for a fishing licence?

stupidity isnt racist, you cant compare what you see on bondi rescue with rock fishos, ive known of 3 guys that have died rock fishing and none of them were asian, and they were strong swimmers, they just werent good thinkers, not enough respect for the ocean