Australia's rugged coastline is a thing of beauty, drawing locals and tourists alike to its scenic vistas and thrilling fishing spots. However, with the allure of the great outdoors comes a significant risk, especially for rock fishers who often find themselves in harm's way. A recent incident captured in a startling beach photo has reignited the conversation about safety and the importance of adhering to life-saving rules.

A Sydney local, frustrated by the reckless behavior he observed, snapped a photo of an angler standing perilously close to the edge of a cliff at a popular fishing spot near Mahon Pool in Maroubra. This area, known for its treacherous conditions, has claimed several lives over the years, making the fisherman's decision to forgo a life jacket all the more alarming.

A Sydney local has voiced frustration over a fisherman's reckless behaviour near the dangerous clifftop fishing area in Maroubra. Credit: Facebook / Shane Atkins

Randwick City Council has been vocal about the dangers, labeling the region's coastline as 'the most dangerous rock fishing area in Australia.' In an effort to prevent further tragedies, the council has introduced mandatory lifejacket laws for rock fishers and implemented a fine of $100 for those who choose to ignore this precaution.

Despite these measures, the photo reveals a concerning trend: individuals continue to flout safety regulations, often with fatal consequences. 'They never learn,' lamented the local who witnessed the dangerous act. The sentiment is echoed by others who find it 'ridiculous' that so many ignore the warnings. Some have even grimly noted that in such situations, a life jacket may only serve to aid in the recovery of a body, rather than prevent a drowning.

Rock fishing is not just a pastime but is considered one of Australia's most dangerous sports. Since 2021, more than 140 people have died while engaging in this activity, and between 2004 to 2024, there have been 241 drowning deaths attributed to rock fishing, with a staggering 10 percent occurring in the Randwick area alone.

The tragic stories are numerous and heartbreaking. A father and son were swept away at Little Bay, and a 19-year-old lost his life near Wollongong after being hit by a wave. These incidents underscore the Royal Life Saving Society's findings that rock fishing accounts for four percent of all drowning deaths in Australia, with a significant portion involving individuals born overseas.

In response to the alarming statistics, Randwick Council has taken a proactive approach, installing 'high impact ‘shock’ signs at rock fishing blackspots' and enforcing the compulsory lifejacket laws established in 2016. These laws apply to anyone rock fishing within the Randwick Local Government Area (LGA), including those assisting and children in the care of the fishers.

The issue extends beyond Sydney, with other 'declared' lifejacket areas in NSW, including the Central Coast, Wollongong, the Sutherland Shire, and the Northern Beaches. Victoria is currently trialing the lifejacket rule across 10 locations, and in Western Australia, wearing a lifejacket at Salmon Holes is already compulsory.

As members of the Seniors Discount Club, we understand the importance of enjoying our golden years safely. We urge all our readers who enjoy rock fishing to prioritize their safety and abide by the local regulations. Remember, no catch is worth risking your life over.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Have you or someone you know been affected by the dangers of rock fishing? Do you think enough is being done to promote safety in these areas? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below, and let's raise awareness together.

For those with tips or personal experiences related to this topic, feel free to reach out to us at the Seniors Discount Club. Your insights could help save a life.

Key Takeaways

• A Sydney local has expressed frustration over a fisherman's dangerous behaviour near the edge of a clifftop, a known hazardous rock fishing area in Maroubra.
• Randwick City Council has stressed that this particular coastline is very dangerous for rock fishing and has introduced a $100 fine for not complying with safety measures, including wearing a lifejacket.
• Despite the measures, the dangerous act of rock fishing without a lifejacket continues, with the area having a history of fatal accidents.
• Randwick City Council has mandated lifejackets for rock fishers within their local government area and has installed 'shock signs' at known blackspots to combat the high rate of angler fatalities.

Stay safe out there, and let's look out for one another.

 

[GrannyJA!]

It might make sense to start charging everyone who needs rescuing, due to their own stupidity, the cost of the rescue, and fining them as well. Why should another person or people have to be endangered, to save someone from their own stupidity. How often do we have to here about a hero who lost their life saving someone else?

 

[GrannyJA!]

It might make sense to start charging everyone who needs rescuing, due to their own stupidity, the cost of the rescue, and fining them as well. Why should another person or people have to be endangered, to save someone from their own stupidity. How often do we have to here about a hero who lost their life saving someone else?

Blasted spell check, should read 'hear'!

 

[elaine41]

You can't charge these idiots for someone having to come to their rescue bc most of them have drowned already.

I agree with the idea during floods when people drive into flood water & then someone needs to put their life at risk to rescue them.

 

[orange]

Some people are thoughtless and uncaring just as long as they are safe.
They don’t seem to care what someone has to go through to save them
Be it POLICE/FIRE BRIGADE/AMBULANCE etc..
I wonder how many really make an effort to thank these caring people.
A bill at the end of their thoughtless actions may get them to take more care .

 

[Noon]

So they should be fined, they don't have any respect for danger yet those rescuers could lose their lives too because of those who take such risks.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Cape Solander on Kurnell Peninsula, around the corner from Captain Cook's landing place is a beauty for rock fishing drownings. The latest being two women of unknown origin who drowned in June this year. This comes on the back of two Nepalese who drowned there in May.

Most rock fishing idiots who come to grief don't respect the power of the ocean, can't read the ocean, are ill equipped and usually of Asian extraction.

No sympathy and no amount of safety advice will cure the stupidity of some.

 

[relljube]

Stupid is as stupid does!

 

[CliffE]

After reading the headline then looking at the photo, one beggars the question, THOUSANDS?

 

[novezar]

Cape Solander on Kurnell Peninsula, around the corner from Captain Cook's landing place is a beauty for rock fishing drownings. The latest being two women of unknown origin who drowned in June this year. This comes on the back of two Nepalese who drowned there in May.

Most rock fishing idiots who come to grief don't respect the power of the ocean, can't read the ocean, are ill equipped and usually of Asian extraction.

No sympathy and no amount of safety advice will cure the stupidity of some.

Hi Veggie,
WOW, mate, you never fail to surprise me.

When I was living in Kirrawee from the years '74-'85, I was a real keen "Rock Hopper" fishing of all places, off the ocean rocks at Cape Solander. Drove past Calsil Brick works on Cpt., Cook Drive, I don't know how many times. You would catch incredible "Bronzy" Luderick. Also fished off the ocean rocks at Boat Harbour, the very north of Cronulla Beach, As well, all along the length of the same beach.

Also at Tabbigai. A touch, just a tad further around, just south of Solander.

Don't worry champ, I had screwed on cleats on my 'Vollies', never wore socks with them on.

Would you believe, that I've sat up on the cliff tops for 2 hours just watching what the sea was doing before venturing down while waiting for the tide to be over three quarters down to the low tide. That's if I wanted to go right down.

I wouldn't ever consider fishing the rising tide at all. Just too dangerous as there was always a 'Roguey' just waiting to come in to get you. There were "Staves" embedded in one particular rock, for the "Rockies" to grab hold of in case of a "Roguey".

I always fished with a beach rod for the 'Bronzies' so I could get 'em up without buggerising around with 'em.

You are so right about the drownings off the ocean rocks there. The uneducated dopes would go down there, as with many other places along our coastline, on a rising high tide with the wrong winds blowing. i.e., anything from Northeasters, to the Southerlies. As you would know, they are absolute "Killers in Waiting" all along the Eastern coastline.

Yes, I remember very clearly of your mentioned drownings. I'd comment to my wife that's where I used to fish all in that area & surrounds.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Hi Veggie,
WOW, mate, you never fail to surprise me.

When I was living in Kirrawee from the years '74-'85, I was a real keen "Rock Hopper" fishing of all places, off the ocean rocks at Cape Solander. Drove past Calsil Brick works on Cpt., Cook Drive, I don't know how many times. You would catch incredible "Bronzy" Luderick. Also fished off the ocean rocks at Boat Harbour, the very north of Cronulla Beach, As well, all along the length of the same beach.

Also at Tabbigai. A touch, just a tad further around, just south of Solander.

Don't worry champ, I had screwed on cleats on my 'Vollies', never wore socks with them on.

Would you believe, that I've sat up on the cliff tops for 2 hours just watching what the sea was doing before venturing down while waiting for the tide to be over three quarters down to the low tide. That's if I wanted to go right down.

I wouldn't ever consider fishing the rising tide at all. Just too dangerous as there was always a 'Roguey' just waiting to come in to get you. There were "Staves" embedded in one particular rock, for the "Rockies" to grab hold of in case of a "Roguey".

I always fished with a beach rod for the 'Bronzies' so I could get 'em up without buggerising around with 'em.

You are so right about the drownings off the ocean rocks there. The uneducated dopes would go down there, as with many other places along our coastline, on a rising high tide with the wrong winds blowing. i.e., anything from Northeasters, to the Southerlies. As you would know, they are absolute "Killers in Waiting" all along the Eastern coastline.

Yes, I remember very clearly of your mentioned drownings. I'd comment to my wife that's where I used to fish all in that area & surrounds.

Being a surfer rather than a fisherman, I know the stretch of coastline from Silver Beach down to Sandshoes (Oak Park) and Bundeena., surfing at every break, including Kurnell Point, Voodoo (inside Merries Reef), Cronulla Point and Shark Island plus everything in between. A conservative estimate is that I have surfed way in excess of 10000 waves in the Cronulla area alone in my 18 years of being in the area!

When I was 13, before the days of leg ropes, I lost my board surfing South Cronulla in an increasing southerly swell. The drift took me behind the rock pools heading towards North Cronulla and about 300 metres offshore. I was, and still am, a hopeless swimmer but my knowledge of the sea allowed me to weather out the eight foot waves and growing. Go with the flow and DO NOT fight it. A sure recipe for drowning.

I have surfed with pros and a great mate ended up number 6 in the world rankings n the mid 1980s. Actually, I beat him in an amateur contest final in 1980. Some of the scariest waves I've surfed were like looking out a third storey window. A long way down!

Ahhh, the memories!

 

[novezar]

Being a surfer rather than a fisherman, I know the stretch of coastline from Silver Beach down to Sandshoes (Oak Park) and Bundeena., surfing at every break, including Kurnell Point, Voodoo (inside Merries Reef), Cronulla Point and Shark Island plus everything in between. A conservative estimate is that I have surfed way in excess of 10000 waves in the Cronulla area alone in my 18 years of being in the area!

When I was 13, before the days of leg ropes, I lost my board surfing South Cronulla in an increasing southerly swell. The drift took me behind the rock pools heading towards North Cronulla and about 300 metres offshore. I was, and still am, a hopeless swimmer but my knowledge of the sea allowed me to weather out the eight foot waves and growing. Go with the flow and DO NOT fight it. A sure recipe for drowning.

I have surfed with pros and a great mate ended up number 6 in the world rankings n the mid 1980s. Actually, I beat him in an amateur contest final in 1980. Some of the scariest waves I've surfed were like looking out a third storey window. A long way down!

Ahhh, the memories!

WOW, Veggie. You certainly "DIDID" once again. You've certainly mentioned some places. I have fished out & close to "Merries" many moons ago now.

You certainly had one really live young life with your surfing exploits. This is also taking into consideration with you admitting to not being a good swimmer. Gamer than "Ned" that's for sure. I reckon that if you had a 2nd chance, you'd do it all over again. Excitement ruled supreme. I can relate to the "Waves" as you described.

You wouldn't recognise Bundeena anymore. This is especially on Sundays & public holidays. The joint is completely overrun by the communal groups of "Towel Headed Pipe Smokers". The only thing that they're not doing is being on their knees, continually bending over on a mat. That was at least 40 + years ago now. Heavens only knows what it's like these days.

It'd be interesting where your abode was, if in the "Shire".

Did you ever partake in a refresher in the "Cecil" at Cronulla?

 

[Veggiepatch]

WOW, Veggie. You certainly "DIDID" once again. You've certainly mentioned some places. I have fished out & close to "Merries" many moons ago now.

You certainly had one really live young life with your surfing exploits. This is also taking into consideration with you admitting to not being a good swimmer. Gamer than "Ned" that's for sure. I reckon that if you had a 2nd chance, you'd do it all over again. Excitement ruled supreme. I can relate to the "Waves" as you described.

You wouldn't recognise Bundeena anymore. This is especially on Sundays & public holidays. The joint is completely overrun by the communal groups of "Towel Headed Pipe Smokers". The only thing that they're not doing is being on their knees, continually bending over on a mat. That was at least 40 + years ago now. Heavens only knows what it's like these days.

It'd be interesting where your abode was, if in the "Shire".

Did you ever partake in a refresher in the "Cecil" at Cronulla?

Only went to the Cecil once on a Sunday afternoon just after Sunday trading came in. And only been to Northies twice.

I actually lived at Riverwood, half way between Bankstown and Hurstville, from 1965 to 1986. Narwee Boys High School was my school, which incidentally, came second in the 1976 Southside Schoolboys Surfing Championships, just a mere 19 kms away from Cronulla!