NSW
Tragedy strikes local angler ILLAWARRA
Greg Clarke
I don’t know where to start. Another rock fisho has been swept to his death at Hill 60/ Honeycomb Rocks at Port Kembla. My condolences to the family and friends for this tragic loss. This time it wasn’t a visitor from Western Sydney with overseas heritage, but a young local fella who had fished the area regularly, so had some knowledge of the way the waves work at this place.
over and along it dragging anyone in the wrong place along the rocks for 20-40m depending on where you are standing. Then it comes to a 90° wall of rock and the water piles up before emptying into the ocean in a massive torrent. If you have managed to stay conscious and haven’t hit your head at this point, you will probably be missing a lot of skin, if not fractures, and you will be in shock. Activating your life jacket may not even be possible as you struggle desperately to get to the surface and some air.
A standard bream from the surf on a sunny winter day. But, as usual, that bigger set comes through and catches several anglers in a bad position, and there is nowhere to go. A big wave over this local ledge results in at best a flogging as you get rolled over the rocks, and if you’re lucky you’ll get left on the ledge. More often, however, you’ll get both a flogging and get washed in. This spot is best treated with more than the usual respect you give to any rock fishing location, and generally should only be fished on the calmest of days. Any swell and you can forget it, particularly from the south. The platform is generally safe in any swell from the north as the islands jutting several kilometres out to sea block it almost completely, but southerly and easterly swells hit it hard. The platform faces south so any bigger waves hit the front of the platform from the east first, then roll 62
JUNE 2022
If you have a selfinflating vest you may stay afloat, but will then be smashed by the next wave along the rock ledge, and the next, and the next. That’s because swimming and making ground in these devices in the wash is nearly impossible. You may get very lucky and survive. If not, the selfinflating vest will make it easier for the rescuers to find your body. Many people believe that mandatory lifejackets everywhere will eliminate fatalities. However, at most rock fishing spots, if you wear a lifejacket you won’t just get gently picked up by a wave and smoothly plopped into the water. It just doesn’t work like that – there is always a whole lot more going on. Still, wearing a lifejacket/ vest will at least give you a chance, provided you make it through the first 30 seconds and are able to
inflate a manual vest. Then there is education. The best education is experience, and getting experience from the guidance of those who have years of knowledge under their belt. But first you have to want to learn. After the two fatal tragedies where boats capsized and people lost their lives, including a child after running into Peggies Reef at Bulli last year, an information day was set up at the local boat ramp at Bellambi. The weather was bad for fishing, so it was the perfect time for anglers who fish the area, particularly those from Western Sydney who don’t see the ocean every day, to get down and have a chat, and learn how to fish safely. Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving, water police, local anglers and others were all present to give advice. After two hours, not a single person had attended. What can I say? You can put up signs and advertise in mags and online, but nobody thinks they’ll be the one to drown so they’re not interested. For it to work you need people willing to be educated. Honeycomb/Hill 60 is a great spot for fishing but only in the right conditions. There are plenty of safer spots around that fish almost as well when the sea is up, so don’t take the chance. Also please spare a thought for the first responders who have to put their lives on the line to get you out of trouble or worse, find your body. I know from personal experience that it’s a harrowing thing to do. THE MONTH AHEAD On the fishing front, June is not my favourite month of the year. It’s cold and usually windy and there aren’t a real lot of options. Having said that, this year could be different as the water has stayed warmer for a little longer, so some species are around in better numbers than usual. The beaches are still fishing pretty well. There are good bream and solid whiting in the gutters on most beaches, with tailor and salmon being caught early in the morning and late in the evening. This month is always good for jewfish during the evenings, with the big high tides just after dark. Yes, it’s cold but you are generally home by 10 o’clock. The rocks have summer and winter species available, with drummer, blackfish, bream and a few trevally in the washes, while the deeper ledges are holding salmon, tailor
and even a few bonito and mackerel tuna on lures. Keep those live baits out too, because there may still be a few longtails about (they were down as far as Bermagui in May) and there is always the chance of a stray kingy. Offshore, the snapper should start to come in over the reefs at the end of the month. However, if the water stays warm, they may stay out deeper for a bit longer because the cuttlefish, even the early ones, won’t come until there is a substantial drop in water temp. Kingies are still over the usual spots with bonito, mackerel tuna, salmon and trevally chasing baitfish in close taking small lures. Flathead are about in numbers too for the drifters, rather than tapering right down at this time of year. Samsonfish, small snapper, pigfish, mowies and even the odd trag are over the reefs for the drifters as well. Further offshore we are waiting for a few yellowfin tuna to show up; so far it is quiet on that front. Still, that can change overnight. Dolphinfish (mahimahi) have hung around the FAD during May so they could well stay a bit longer if the water stays warm as they have the past few seasons. A big blue marlin isn’t out of the question either.
There are plenty of tailor along the backs of the beaches. The estuaries seem to be bucking the trend of staying active. The surrounding land mass and cold nights and winter winds cool the water in the lake proper very quickly. The tidal area around the entrance though has a few flathead biting on the run-in tide, along with bream and even a few whiting, but blackfish are the target for most anglers
this month. The jetties in the channel and walls up to the drop-off are all holding fish. That’s it for this month. Remember that no fish is worth risking your life for, so if in doubt or the sea is up even a little bit, stay off the open ocean rocks. At the very least, head for a sheltered, quiet safe area – or just stay home.
BOATING NEWS
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