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