Most people tend to think of lifejackets as something they store in their boat for an emergency, but a growing number of boaters are now wearing them whenever they are on the water.

Disaster can strike without notice on the ocean, particularly on a small boat, and once you’re in the water it can be too late to reach the safety equipment you need.

Gone are the days of large bulky life jackets that were uncomfortable to wear and made performing even simple activities on the boat tough.

The new slimline PFDs these days weigh next to nothing and you barely know you are wearing them, leading many skippers to slip them on as soon as they hit the water so they know they will be safe, rather than sorry.

The slimline jackets come in either manual or automatically inflating designs and feature a whistle, reflective tape and have attachment points for a harness or safety light. They also have a chin support to keep your head clear of the water whatever the conditions.

Of course, wearing a PFD is just part of staying safe on your boat.

Having all the right safety equipment and knowing how to use it is essential, as is knowing your boat’s capabilities, and your own at the helm, and paying heed to the conditions around you, which can always change suddenly.

The skipper has a responsibility for all his crew and should always inform the crew as to the whereabouts of the safety gear before leaving port.

You should always inform others of your plans before you leave, and log in with the local sea rescue volunteers whenever possible.

For more tips on boat fishing safety, visit http://www.fishandsurvive.org.au/boat-fishing.php. Check out the new slimline life jackets here: www.fishandsurvive.com.au

It is salmon season again in the South-West and the schools are on the move. Recfishwest is encouraging recreational fishers to fish from the beach for salmon, rather than rocks, wherever possible. Salmon move in large schools and often track very close to shore, they are usually within casting range of even the least experienced of beach anglers.

Catching a salmon from the beach is a world-class fishing experience and there are few things better than seeing a 4-6kg fish slide up onto the sand. Beach fishing is also a much better option for anyone wanting to catch and release some of these magnificent sportfish. Most importantly though, personal safety is not as much of an issue from the sand and there are countless locations suitable for beach fishing.

At the moment there are big numbers of salmon being caught from Esperance to Perth. There are many great beach fishing locations throughout the South-West.

The south side and West End at Rottnest Island often hold fish, while Point Peron can produce salmon at times, as can the North Mole, with boat anglers doing well in Cockburn Sound and around Mewstones and Stragglers. The Ammo Jetty always fishes well and reports are encouraging of catches from the jetty.  Recfishwest encourage all fishers to respect their catch, other fishers and the environment. Around Mandurah, the White Hills to Preston stretch can offer great salmon fishing at times and offers fishers the chance to drive along the beach looking for passing schools. The sheltered bays around Dunsborough are famous for their salmon fishing as the schools pass through, with Bunker Bay and Rocky Point the most consistent locations. There will be plenty of fish between the Capes, and Hamelin Bay is one of the great salmon fishing spots for those with a 4WD.

Along the south coast, there are countless fine salmon fishing locations including the mouth of the Warren River, Windy Harbour, Parry’s Beach, Bornholm, Nanarup, Cheynes Beach and Foster’s Beach. As salmon schools are constantly moving, patience is a virtue and you often need to wait for the fish to pass by.

The great thing about salmon is they can be caught with just about any method, including bait, lure and fly. Mulies are a top bait and easily fished on a set of ganged hooks on a weighted or unweighted rig, depending on location and conditions. If catching and releasing salmon it is recommended that fishers use single hooks on lures and single or snelled hooks with bait to maximise the salmon’s chance of survival. Any lure that does a good imitation of a mulie is a chance to catch fish, especially minnow lures. Surface poppers, stickbaits and soft plastics also catch plenty of fish and the visual aspect of surface fishing is hard to beat for many anglers. Big metals are also an important part of the angler’s armoury, as they enable long casts to schools sitting well off the shore.

If keeping your fish Recfishwest encourages fishers to dispatch the fish quickly and thoroughly and put it on ice, clean your fishing area and put your rubbish in the bin.

If you would like to find out more about fishing for salmon in Western Australia, check out our How to Catch Salmon article.

With the Easter long weekend approaching, Recfishwest are reminding people to take personal responsibility and stay safe when fishing this salmon season.

Recfishwest Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Rowland said locations such as Albany and Esperance welcome a large population increase during the Easter period for the great salmon run on their annual migration around the West Australian coast.

“Salmon are a superb sports fish, however it’s not worth putting your life at risk when the salmon turn up” Dr Rowland said.

South coast locations popular with salmon fishes often see unpredictable weather and large swells which can make fishing from the rocks dangerous.

“The excitement of a good salmon run often sees people overlook simple steps that ensure their safety, as they rush to go fishing from the rocks unprepared.”

“For those fishing this Easter, Recfishwest strongly recommends fishing from the beach.’’ Dr Rowland said.

Local Albany fishermen and well respected fishing safety advocate Andrew Jarvis urges people to stay off the rocks.

‘’We simply do not want anymore more deaths. If you must fish from the rocks make sure you are prepared.”

Dr Rowland praised the tireless work by community groups, volunteers and state and local governments to make fishers safe, especially on the south coast.

“The work that has been done in Esperance, Albany and surrounds, which are our most high risk locations, to make people safe is enormous and a big thank you to the people making people aware of safe fishing practices in the those areas” Dr Rowland said.

Recfishwest continues to promote and support the Free Loan Life Jacket Scheme in 20 tackle stores around the state, where fishers can go in and hire a free life jacket before the head out fishing.

“If the right precautions are followed, fishing from the rocks can be a safe activity.” Dr Rowland said.

If you must fish from the rocks, Recfishwest wants fishers to understand the simple rock fishing safety messages:

• Know how to swim
• Wear a life jacket
• Never fish alone
• Observe first, fish later
• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
• Be familiar with public safety equipment
• Tell someone your plans

In another major step towards safeguarding the lives of recreational fishers, 10 new Angel Rings will soon be installed at popular rock fishing locations around Albany.

Rock fishing is a very dangerous pastime and many lives have been lost, not just along the south coast but all along the WA coastline.

Prevention is the best cure and there are many steps rock fishers can take to ensure their safety, and tips on these can be found at www.fishandsurvive.org.au

However, Angel Rings are life buoys which can be thrown to anyone who unfortunately finds themselves in the water, and greatly increase the chance of survival until rescue in that scenario.

Recfishwest, with the help of community partners, are helping get Angel Rings placed at a number of key rock fishing locations around WA.

Spots close to Albany where new Angel Rings are soon to be installed are The Deeps, Lowland, Cable Beach, Blow Holes, The Steps, Tourist Rock at Cheynes Beach, Three Stripes at Cheynes Beach, Dunsky’s and Maitraya.

There were already Angel Rings in place at the Salmon Holes, and they have also been installed at locations around Kalbarri and Esperance recently with Denmark’s rings not too far away from being installed.

The latest installations in Albany have been driven by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the City of Albany.

The City of Albany’s Cameron Woods welcomed the installations as a great community asset.

“The installations are an important part of the mix to keep local residents and our visitors safe whilst enjoying our amazing coastal environments,” he said.

“The installations combined with signage and an education awareness campaign is designed to reduce the loss of life and the associated impact this has on families and communities.”

Local rock fishing safety advocate Andrew Jarvis welcomed the news.

“I am very pleased to have been part of the group that has organised to get the Angel Rings in place and it is good to see different government departments working together,” he said.

“I believe Peter Hartley, the district manager from DPaW, has been the primary driver behind the push on rock fishing safety and he deserves a big pat on the back for his efforts.”

With our state government 3 year rock fishing safety funding coming to a close, Recfishwest will be pushing to receive another round of funding to keep fishers safe in WA and incite behaviour change within our communities.

The Kalbarri Offshore and Angling Club, along with community partners and the Department of Parks and Wildlife are doing their bit to keep fishers safe around the coast of Kalbarri.

A renown rock fishing location, the cliffs of Kalbarri present huge challenges for both beginners and experienced fishers. Although quality fish can be caught from the Kalbarri cliffs, the dangers that come with fishing here outweigh any fish.

Recfishwest provided five Angel Rings to the Kalbarri Offshore and Angling Club and DPaW to install at designated high risk fishing locations, and with no hesitations installed the rings to ensure fishers are kept as safe as possible when rock fishing.

As reported in our last Broad Cast, Kalbarri Sports and Dive tackle shop are now a Free Life Jacket Loan location with 5 jackets available to hire for anyone going rock fishing in an extension of the state wide Life Jacket Loan scheme bringing the number of locations to 19. Recfishwest is thrilled with the efforts of the local fishing club, the tackle shop and community partners and shows they care about public safety and willing to help at all costs.

Kalbarri Angling and Offshore Fishing Club President Cheryl Eley said fishing is such an important recreation for locals and tourists here, that installing safety equipment on the rocks was essential to keeping fishers safe.

“We’re not experts in safety, but any safety initiative that involves the local community and strives to keep people safe, is a win win for the fishing club and the Kalbarri community” Cheryl said.

“We’re proud to be a part of the rock fishing safety initiative and the club guys who installed the rings deserve a huge pat on the back.”

“We had a local go in off the rocks over the Christmas period and one of the existing Angel Rings was used to save his life. That’s proof these devices work and we’re happy to have new ones installed in case someone else goes in.”

With the recent success of the Kalbarri Sports Classic and the huge influx of tourists during holiday season, these safety initiatives couldn’t have come at a better time.

Check out our fishing safety page for more information on staying safe while fishing.

Free life jacket loan locations are listed in the footer of our website.

While some of us will be hunting Easter eggs and eating hot-cross buns, others will be out early for a spot of fishing at their favourite holiday destination.

Easter is well known by fishers as the unofficial start of the great salmon run on their annual migration around the West Australian coast. Salmon, a popular sports fish, are already making appearances at popular fishing locations around Esperance, Albany and the South West.

Recfishwest Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Rowland said salmon are a magnificent fighting species and a favourite among fishers who eagerly await this time of year, however he reminds fishers it’s not worth putting your life on the line when the salmon turn up.

“The excitement of a good salmon run often sees people overlook simple steps that ensure their safety, as they rush to go fishing from the rocks unprepared.”

Recfishwest want to remind fishers of the simple rock fishing safety messages:

“Throughout the South West you’ll see the rock fishing safety messages on road traffic signs, in local tackle stores and at fishing hotspots like Albany’s Salmon Holes.”

For those seeking salmon this Easter, Recfishwest recommends fishing from beach locations which are generally a lot safer than rock platforms.

“People have been catching good numbers of fish from along south coast beaches in recent weeks and as the locals will tell you, beach fishing has always been a great, safe place for all the family to fish.”

With so many quality fishing options this Easter, hopefully fishers can find a nice quiet spot to relax and enjoy some quality time with their lines in the water.

Fishers are reminded that free loan life jackets are available at a number of locations state-wide. Check the footer of this website for locations.

It is salmon season again in the South-West and that means some great fishing action. Recfishwest encourages recreational fishers to fish from the beach, rather than rocks, wherever possible.

Indeed, beach fishing is often more productive than rock fishing, and is also a lot more conducive to catch and release fishing for salmon. Over the next month there will be big numbers of salmon caught from Albany to Perth.

In metro waters, the south side and West End at Rottnest Island often hold fish, while Point Peron can produce salmon at times, as can the North Mole.

Around Mandurah, the White Hills to Prestons stretch can offer great salmon fishing at times and offers fishers the chance to drive along the beach looking for passing schools.

The sheltered bays around Dunsborough are famous for their salmon fishing as the schools pass through, with Bunker Bay and Rocky Point the most consistent locations. There will be plenty of fish between the Capes, and Hamelin Bay is one of the great salmon fishing spots for those with a 4WD.

Along the south coast, there are countless fine salmon fishing locations including the mouth of the Warren River, Windy Harbour, Parrys Beach, Bornholm, Nanarup, Cheynes Beach and Fosters Beach.

As salmon schools are constantly moving, patience is a virtue and you often need to wait for the fish to pass by. The great thing about salmon is they can be caught with just about any method, including bait, lure and fly.

Mulies are a top bait and easily fished on a set of ganged hooks on a weighted or unweighted rig, depending on location and conditions. But when the Salmon are running, they will pretty much take anything.

Any lure that does a good imitation of a mullie is a chance to catch fish, especially minnow lures. Surface poppers, stickbaits and soft plastics also catch plenty of fish and the visual aspect of surface fishing is hard to beat for many anglers. Big metals are also an important part of the angler’s armoury, as they enable long casts to schools sitting well off the shore. We strongly reccomend single hooks on your lures as they’re better for the fish and safer for you, especially if you plan on releasing your Salmon.

The salmon run is one of the great sport fishing opportunities in the world, so get out amongst it!