Angel Ring = Safe Spot for Rock Fishing?

We all know that angel rings are powerful life savers, especially in an accident of life and death. However, there's a heartbreaking story behind the origin of angel rings .

In 1993, the life of a rock fishing angler was saved at Moes Rock, south of Jervis Bay in NSW by a life ring installed by a bereaved father who had lost his son who was rock fishing at Moes Rock at an earlier date.

The NSW Government then formed a group to focus on Rock Fishing Safety and a year later Australian National Sportfishing Association NSW (ANSA NSW) was commissioned to manage The Angel Rings Project to install angel rings in known rock fishing spots. The pilot project of installing angel rings is also underway in Victoria and Tasmania.

Since 1994, over 100 angel rings have been installed in known rock fishing spotsin NSW with more than 30 lives have been saved. Indeed,in just a 10-day period between 25 September and 5 October 2010, angel rings were used in five confirmed rescues in NSW.

Many people think that if the fishing site has an angel ring installed, that implies this must be a safe spot for rock fishing. But remember the installation of angel rings actually started from the most dangerous fishing spots, so if an angel ring is being installed at the spot, it actually implies this is a high risk location, perhaps fatal accidents had happened at this location before and that's why an angel ring is there to reduce the number of casuaities.

So  if a spot has angel ring installed, it does not necessarily mean it's a safe spot for rock fishing.

Angel Ring

Photo source from Recreational Fishing Alliance.

Unpredictable Mother Nature

One of the golden rules for rock fishing anglers is to "observe first, fish later". But many anglers might think they have already checked the weather, wind speed and tidal conditions etc.before they set off and what's the point of wasting half an hour to observe.

Let us show you how a rock fishing spot, which looks pretty safe initially, can change dramatically in only 8 minutes. The following series of photos were taken by our Angel Ring team member Tony Steiner in October 2010 on the top of the cliff at Coogee in Sydney's eastern suburb.

On the same day these photos were taken, a 33-year-old Japanese angler was reported missing at Bluefish Point on Sydney's North Head, which is only a few kilometers up the coast from Coogee. The angler was fishing alone and his fishing equipment was found on the rocks and his car was discovered in the carpark almost a day later.

So if 30 minutes observation can eventually save your life, do you sitll think it's a waste of time?

Looks like a good spot for rock fishing.

Only 8 minutes later, it's a dangerous spot.

Photo source: Recreational Fishing Alliance

天有不測之風雲

我們常常提醒大家，到達礁石垂釣的地點，至少花半小時觀察環境，然後才開始垂釣。許多釣友心想：我出發前已查看天氣及潮汐報告，沒問題的，為何還要浪費時間？

讓我們來看看一個礁石釣魚點，原本看很安全的，在八分鐘後卻是險象橫生的實例。

這輯圖片是月前由天使環救生圈成員Tony Steiner在悉尼東面海邊 Coogoo，站在山崖上拍攝的。在同一天，一名33歲的日本裔釣魚者獨自在 North Head 的 Bluefish Point 垂釣時失蹤，Bluefish 距離Coogee只有數公里，兩地的天氣及潮汐環境相似。調查人員最後只能找到這名日本裔釣魚者的釣魚工具，及在附近停車場找到他的汽車，失蹤者恐怕已兇多吉少。

若花半小時觀察能檢回一命，你仍認為是浪費時間嗎？

Photo source: Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW

這片岩石群看似適合是垂釣點

八分鐘後岩石群突被海浪掩沒。

Get Ready - Safety First (Part 2)

5.  Always Wear Life Jacket

Always wear a life jacket even you’re good at swimming because the sea is just unpredictable and remember to put on light clothing and non-slip soles. Bring a mobile phone, a rope and a float as rescue tools, just in case someone falls into the sea.


6. Never Turn Your Back on the Sea

Never turn your back on the sea and always stay alert of the surrounding tidal condition. If unfortunately your companion is washed into the sea, DO NOT attempt to jump into the sea but throw the Angel Ring, if available nearby, or the rope and float into the sea to rescue your mate, and call 000 or 112 to get help.


7. Don’t Panic If You’re Washed In

Stay calm and alert if you’re washed in, try to swim away from the rocks and get to a safe spot to wait for the rescue. Swimming towards  the rocks is very dangerous as a big wave will push you hit the rocks and you'll be unconcious and likely to get drowned.


Don’t put your life on a line. These basic rock fishing safety tips are proven strategies that have worked before and will no doubt work again in future.

整裝待發 安全至上 （二） Get Ready - Safety First (Part 2)

5. 必須穿上救生衣：

大海變幻莫測，所以即使釣友是游泳高手，垂釣時都要穿著救生衣，並穿著輕便衣物及有防滑鞋底的鞋。隨身攜帶手提電話、一條繩索及浮泡，若同伴意外掉入海中，可作拯救之用。


6. 切勿背向大海：

當站在岩石群上，任何時候都要面向大海，留意周遭海浪的狀況。萬一有人被海浪捲入水中，千萬不要匆忙跳入海中救人，而是尋找天使環救生圈或用備有的繩索和浮泡來救援及撥打000或112求救。若英語不靈光，在電話接通後可要求傳譯員協助。


7. 墮海後的應變措施：　　

如果是你自己被捲入海，要保持鎮定，游離岩石群至一個比較安全的地點，等待同伴或救生隊來拯救。游向岩石群是十分危險的，因為一個大浪湧來，分分鐘令你撞向岩石並昏迷。


這些安全措施看似老生常談，但往往就是靠這些基本安全常識，才不致令釣友們的生命懸索一線。

Get Ready - Safety First (Part 1)

As we mentioned in the previous post, rock Fishing can be a dangerous sport, therefore anglers must NEVER GO ROCK FISHING before understanding the safety and precautious measures and here are the basic tips you should know:


1. Never Fish by Yourself

Never go rock fishing alone, always fish in a group and on the fishing spot you should be within sight of each other because if any of you get into trouble, someone will be there to help and alert the emergency services.



2. Keep Your Friends and Family Informed

Always tell your friends and family of the fishing location and what time you plan to be back, if you change your mind on the location, update your friends or family on the changes



3. Must Check Weather and Tidal Conditions

Check the weather and tidal conditions before you set out to rock fishing. We found the Weather Zone website very user friendly - just input the postal code or town name, you’ll be redirected to the page with detail local weather conditions such as temperature and wind direction, and then click on the “Tide” icon, and you’ll get all the information about the tidal changes.


4. Observe First

When you arrive at the fishing spot, spend about half an hour to observe the tidal and weather conditions. Also plan an escape route in case you’re washed in. If the conditions worsen, find another calmer or more sheltered spot. But if the condition looks dangerous – DON’T fish there or JUST GO HOME!

(To be cont’d)

整裝待發 安全至上 (一) Get Ready - Safety First (Part 1)

正如前文所述，磯釣是眾多釣魚活動中最危險的，所以在出發釣魚前，釣友們必須有完整裝備，並掌握預防意識，我們先談談一些安全守則：


1. 結伴前往：

千萬不要獨自前往礁石垂釣，到了目的地，大家分散在不同地點垂釣，但也要在大家的視線範圍內，萬一你或同伴出事，也有人可以施以援手及致電000 或112求救，遇險者有較大機會獲救。


2. 讓家人或友人知道你的所在點

出發前要通知家人或友人你的目的地及回程時間，若你稍後改變行程，謹記通知他們。


3. 查看天氣及潮汐報告：

出發垂釣前必須查看垂釣地點天氣及潮汐報告，可惜中文網站一般只有澳洲大城市的天氣資訊，但英文網站如Weather Zone，即使是小城鎮的天氣資訊也一應俱全，而且很容易搜尋，只須輸入郵政編號或城鎮名稱便有找到當地氣溫及風向資訊，再按 “Tide” 字，便有一份完整潮汐報告。


4.先觀察半小時

到達目的地後，先花半小時觀察風勢和海面情況，並設計逃生路線。若天氣轉壞，另找一處比較平靜或有遮蔽的地點，若情況看來有點危險 ── 請回家去也。

（待續）

Rock fishing safety blog

Rock fishing is very popular in Australia, it’s exciting and challenging. Unfortunately, rock fishing is probably the most dangerous type of angling. Figures tell us that people from Asian backgrounds – Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese - made up almost half of the rock fishing fatality statistics over the past few years.

How can we forget five Hong Kong Chinese migrants lost their lives while rock fishing at Catherine Hill Bay in Newcastle on Mother’s Day this year? It is believed to be the worst rock fishing tragedy in Australian history.

A week before this dreadful accident, a Korean man died fishing rocks nearby. And on May 15, a 29-year-old student from Mainland China was believed to have lost his life while rock fishing alone off North Bondi in Sydney. And about two weeks later, another 41-year-old man was swept into the water off the coast of Kiama in NSW while rock fishing with two friends. (Read the news article here)

This makes May 2010 the worst month in NSW in rock fishing history - EIGHT rock fishing fatalities in a single month!

And nationwide, for the year ended 30 June 2009, there were 13 rock fishing fatalities – it was already higher than Australia’s average 11 per year. But then for the next 12 months, more than 20 lives were again lost in rock fishing.

As multicultural workers working for Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW (RFA),we set up this blog to campaign for rock fishing safety. We want to raise the awareness of anglers, especially those of Asian descent and non-English speaking background, about the dangers of rock fishing and actions needed to reduce the risk. The fishing and safety tips are from RFA. We will see you soon.

磯釣安全網誌的誕生 Rock fishing safety blog

磯釣安全網誌的誕生

在澳洲磯釣(礁石垂釣)是非常受歡迎的活動，然而也是釣魚活動中最危險的。絶不是種族歧視，只是過去幾年的統計數字告訴我們，磯釣活動的遇難者，約半數是來自中國、南韓和越南的亞裔人士。

相信大家仍對今年母親節發生的磯釣慘劇記憶猶新 ── 兩個香港移民家庭合共5人，在Newcastle 的Catherine Hill灣海邊罹難，是澳洲歷來最嚴重的磯釣海難。(請參閱雅虎新聞文章)

連同另外兩宗奪命意外，令今年五月成為新州磯釣史上的災難月，一個月內有八人死於磯釣事故。

以澳洲全國而言，每年平均有11人在磯釣活動中遇害，但截至2009年6月底的年度共有13人遇害，翌年遇害人數更超過20人。

作為新南威爾斯州釣魚康樂聯盟(Recreational Fishing Alliance)的多元文化工作人員，我們決定設立這網誌，定期發佈文章，希望能提高亞裔人士對磯釣活動的安全意識，網誌內有關的釣魚安全常識和垂釣技巧，主要由釣魚康樂聯盟提供。