The Police Rescue Squad hit the waters of Lake Illawarra to trial the Stormy Lifesaver self-inflating horseshoe buoy on Wednesday.

The device, soon to be fitted to every general duties police car in the Lake Illawarra Area Command, looks like a football and self inflates when it hits the water, providing a life ring.

In the past 12 months, three rock fishermen have drowned along the region's coastline - one at Port Kembla's notorious Honeycomb Rocks, one at Kiama and one at Currarong.

Lake Illawarra rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Richard Walsh said the device would save rock fishermen while reducing the need for officers to enter dangerous seas.

"It gives them an option," Sgt Walsh said.

"General duties crew, if they see someone in trouble they're going to dive into the water and try to save them - it's just part and parcel of what we do."

Sgt Walsh said officers now had the choice to remain on land if the person in trouble was able to grab on to the floatation device.

He said there were a few simple tips rock fishermen could follow to avoid danger.

"If there are big conditions don't go rock fishing, it's not worth your safety just for a couple of fish," Sgt Walsh said.

"If you are going to be in that situation put a life jacket on.

"It's your safety at the end of the day - you want to go home to your family."

Berkeley rock fisherman Shoumin Xu said he was a keen angler who wet a line several times each week.

But he said sometimes, conditions weren't worth the risk.

"When I'm fishing I'm always watching the wind and waves," he said.

"If the wind is more than 50km I will stay home and not go fishing. You care about yourself and you take care when fishing."