It's a favourite Christmas pastime for many, but Wollongong Council, Surf Life Saving Illawarra and Lake Illawarra Police are urging rock fishers to take all safety precautions when venturing out – including the mandatory use of life jackets.
The Christmas-New Year period can see people heading out in search of that prized catch, but rock fishing is statistically one of Australia's most dangerous sports, claiming around 13 lives each year. It includes six lives lost at Port Kembla since 2021.
It's why, in 2022, Council opted in to the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016 that saw the Wollongong Local Government Area declared a high-risk rock fishing area, making life jackets mandatory for all participants fishing at high-risk locations.
After an initial 12-month moratorium on infringements, NSW Police enforced the measures from November 2023, and will do so again this summer, issuing infringement notices to any rock fishers found not wearing life jackets at high-risk locations.
'High-risk' locations are any naturally occurring rock platforms or rock formations exposed to ocean swell, with most fatalities occurring when people were not wearing a life jacket.
Wollongong Council Operations Manager of Beach Services Murray Copas urged all fishers to wear approved life jackets and take all safety precautions.
"Regardless of your rock fishing experience, conditions can change rapidly and the ocean can be extremely dangerous and unpredictable," Mr Copas said.
"Life jackets save lives and people not wearing life jackets in these high-risk locations risk more than just a fine – they're potentially putting their life on the line. And, sadly, not just their life, but that of the emergency services who are called in to assist when someone is swept off the rocks.
"We ask people to understand coastal conditions and warnings before venturing out, take note of signage, and please wear approved life jackets. If you have any doubts about the safety of a location, do not go there."
Superintendent of Lake Illawarra Police Craig Ireland echoed the call.
"The mandatory life jacket legislation for rock fishing in this area was introduced for one reason only – to save lives," Superintendent Ireland said.
"The ocean is unpredictable, and people are at risk fishing from rock platforms regardless of their experience or local knowledge. Nobody can predict when a freak wave might strike.
"Failure to wear a life jacket attracts a $100 on-the-spot fine, but our police officers would rather see compliance than be out issuing fines. Our primary focus is safety, and life jackets are the easiest way to protect rock fishers from the potential dangers that come with rock fishing."
Other safety precautions people should take include regularly checking weather and tide conditions, wear appropriate clothing and footwear with non-slip soles, never fish alone, and always carry a mobile phone, EPIRB or two-way radio.
If someone is swept into the water, do not jump in after them. If there is a lifebuoy, angel ring or flotation device nearby, throw it to the person to help them keep afloat and call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
