An experienced rock fisher and head of a NSW fishing organisation says more can be done to educate fishers in order to avoid tragedy like that which befell Brenden Buxton Hurd this week.
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Stan Konstantaras, president of the Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW, said education was important to try avert further tragedy.
"We need to better educate anglers on where to fish before they leave home," Mr Konstantaras said, such as using the internet to provide updates on factors like swell, prevailing weather conditions and tides at their prospective fishing location.
Similarly, Mr Konstantaras said anglers had been calling for cameras to be installed at popular spots like Hill 60, so fishers could open their phone and check the conditions live before they headed out.
"I think a couple of cameras would go a long way," he said.
He said most people that fished were licensed, so more education could be built into the licensing process, such as a rock fishing tutorial.
Using the contact data collected through licensing, Mr Konstantaras said, emails could be sent to licence holders with weather alerts and safety refreshers.
But he said any education efforts had to be ongoing, because an increasing number of people were taking up fishing each year.
As well as education, Mr Konstantaras said people who fished at Hill 60 would benefit from more options in the area from which to cast their line.
He said there were not many alternatives in the Port Kembla area, with the closure of the breakwalls, and he suggested the construction of a fishing platform.
Mr Konstantaras questioned the possibility of locking fishers out of Hill 60, asking who would enforce it.
Wollongong MP Paul Scully has called for the council to mandate life jackets when rock fishing, but Wollongong City Council Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has raised concerns about enforcement and cost.
Mr Konstantaras said any legislative changes had to run parallel to education.
Mr Buxton Hurd died after he was swept from the infamous rock platform while fishing on Anzac Day.
The 19-year-old's body was recovered from the water on Wednesday afternoon.
His death was the sixth at the same location in a little over 15 months; in early 2021, five men were killed in two separate incidents within three weeks.
Mr Konstantaras urged those going rock fishing to observe the conditions carefully before heading out and think about what they would do if they did get washed in.
Those who could not swim should wear a life jacket, Mr Konstantaras said, and appropriate footwear was important; on the sandstone of Hill 60, that was rock spikes or cleats.
He said people should never fish alone, and consider where else they would go if conditions were too risky at their chosen location - even if that meant heading home.
"There's always another day," Mr Konstantaras said.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
