Rock fishing
Staying safe when rock fishing
Rock fishing is a dangerous pastime. The Randwick City coastline is the most dangerous rock fishing area in Australia. In recent years there have been 22 recorded rock fishing fatalities in the Randwick City area and 201 nationally.
Wear a lifejacket
When rock fishing you must wear a lifejacket - it's the law and fines apply. A lifejacket helps you float giving you more time to be rescued or swim to safety should you be washed in.
Safety tips
Learn to swim. You shouldn't rock fish unless you can swim.
Wear a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your chance of survival if you are washed into the water.
Wear appropriate footwear. Wear rock fishing shoes with cleats or spiked boots.
Check conditions. Know the swell, wind and tide conditions of your location. You can also check our live beach cams before you go fishing.
Never fish by yourself. Fish in a group. If someone is washed in, one person can stay and help while the other alerts emergency services (dial 000).
Go home if too rough. If conditions look dangerous, do not fish. Go to a different location or come back another day. There will be always be another fish.
Make a safe choice
Randwick City Council is encouraging everyone to be aware of the dangers of rock fishing. A new campaign using outdoor advertising, cinema advertising, and multicultural media is urging anyone considering fishing off the rocks to 'make a safe choice'.
Read more about our campaign to increase safety.
Randwick Council initiatives to improve safety for rock fishers
Over the past decade, Randwick Council has implemented a number of proactive initiatives to increase safety and raise awareness about the dangers of rock fishing.
This has included:
- being the first council in Australia to implement compulsory lifejacket laws for rock fishers in 2016;
- installing high impact ‘shock’ signs at rock fishing blackspots indicating the number of fatalities with translations in multiple languages;
- conducting multilingual surveys of rock fishers about behavior and safety to help develop appropriate strategies;
- installing live beach cams to broadcast beach conditions helping rock fishers assess conditions before leaving home;
- working with industry associations to communicate key safety information;
- hosting and supporting rock fishing safety workshops distributing free lifejackets; and
- supporting legislative changes to require bait and tackle retailers to display rock fishing safety information at the point of sale.
Lifejacket law
It's the law to wear a lifejacket when rock fishing in the Randwick City Local Government Area. This includes locations such as La Perouse, Little Bay, Malabar, Maroubra, Coogee and Clovelly.
The Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016 (NSW) came into effect on 1 December 2016.
An on the spot fine of $100 applies to those fishing without an approved lifejacket.
This means you must wear an appropriate lifejacket whenever you rock fish anywhere in the Randwick LGA. Anyone who is helping you rock fish in the Randwick LGA, as well as children in your care, MUST also wear an appropriate lifejacket.
More information:
- Find the right lifejacket for you
- Download a map of where the law applies in Randwick City
- Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016
- More rock fishing safety tips
For more information about the new legislation visit the NSW Government Water Safety website.
Rock fishing resources
- Check swell forecasts: Willy Weather, SeaBreeze or Bureau of Meteorology . You can also download apps for your phone.
- Subscribe to Roads and Maritime Authority weather email alerts.
- Subscribe to Recreational Fishing Alliance safety email alerts and newsletters.
- Visit the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW or Safe Fishing website for detailed rock fishing safety information.
Rock fishing surveys
Randwick City Council conducted an extensive 'on-the-rocks' survey of rock fishers in 2013 to better understand attitudes and behaviours to help reduce rock fishing fatalities. A follow up survey was undertaken in partnership with NSW Department of Justice Office of Emergency Management in 2017 following the introduction of compulsory lifejacket laws.