WA Rock Spots - Angel Rings
Hi Guys, Bulliten doing the rounds so looking for some help, drop me a line if you can help
Cheers
Stan
The Australian National Sportfishing Association in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Fisheries and Forestry is commencing a trial of “Angel Rings” around Australia. Angel Rings are lifesaving buoys placed at popular rockfishing spots to aid rockfishers, tourists and the members of the public who slip or get washed in to the water.
Angel rings are designed to keep them afloat until a rescue can be organised or as a buoyancy aid to assist them to get to a safer spot to exit the water.
Stan Konstantaras from ANSA wants to know where anglers around Australia would like us to locate some of these new life rings and goes on to say “We are looking for popular rockfishing spots that could be dangerous to local, visiting and inexperienced anglers in adverse conditions. Iconic spots that are well known and often written about in the media will also be considered”
The plan is to set up pilot projects around Australia and then get the assistance of local anglers, fishing clubs and community groups to look after them and expand the project. With 116 rings in NSW already and 47 confirmed rescues under the NSW Branch belt, the project is worthwhile and saves lives. The roll out of the project will also encompass an education campaign to raise the safety awareness of anglers who fish the rocks and make them a bit more experienced in reading the conditions. Angel Rings are just a small part of the rockfishing safety spectrum.
Drop Stan Konstantaras a line at pastelli@netspace.net.au and let him know where you think a ring is needed.
MattMiller
Posts: 4171
Date Joined: 15/06/09
Get a hold
of Ray Walker from Dunsborough through the Western Angler forum.
He's the guru of Rock Safety in the SW of WA and has been heavily involved in installing rope anchors at numerous popular fishing spots in the capes region.
Getting some thoughts from him would be a great place to start
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Be a bit hard to get hold of
Be a bit hard to get hold of Ray, he is off travelling around Oz with his Wife. Dont think they plan to be back till Oct/Nov. Last i heard he was up near Port Smith and only getting recpetion when doing supply runs into Broome.
But agree with Till. Use anchor points so you dont actually end up in the water to begin with. Not saying the angel rings arent a good idea, but where possible there should be anchor points as well as angel rings. Not just Angel Rings. Its harder to vandalise/steal an anchor point too.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Maybe don't fall in the water
Maybe don't fall in the water and need the ring, use Ray's rock anchors.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
Angel rings
I have always wondered why there aren't any at steep point.
Leemo
Posts: 3712
Date Joined: 22/02/07
exactly. also, i think the
exactly. also, i think the positioning of the one at Garths at quobba is a bit inconvenient - it should be easier to get to quickly, rather than bolting up the rocks and back down.
bludgin' since 94'
deezydee
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 05/12/10
Vandals ruin things for
Vandals ruin things for everyone.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
Quobba
Quobba could definately do with a few more, but yes I believe vandals have damaged them previously
Cortez474
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 24/01/12
They used to have them in
They used to have them in Albany where a local drowned a few years back.........all be removed recently due to theft and vandalism.....
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
And interestingly a few years
And interestingly a few years ago when Ray Walker was trying to get some Anchor Points installed down in Torndirrup NP( same as the ones within Leeuwin-Naturaliste NP) DEC down there refused them. Apparently something about there already being angel rings and that they were good enough. Think DEC didnt want them as then they would have to do annual strength checks on the anchor points and maintain them. Much easier to have angel rings that arent paid for or maintained by DEC.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18089
Date Joined: 11/03/08
they are a great idea if they
they are a great idea if they were left where they are meant to be and not grow legs.
Anchor points are good as long as the people have rope to strap themselves to them.
both methods have pro's and con's. a mixture of both would be benificial in many fishing locations all along the west coast.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
depends
rocks in the SW generally tend to be less craggy and your rope will just slide along and follow you nicely most of the time. alot of rock platforms in the north are craggy and are nightmare to drag a rope around on.
when rock fishing you should be able to take care of your own fishing party should something go wrong
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Agree it is a pain in the
Agree it is a pain in the arse draggin a rope behind you on limetsone jagged rocks. Much nicer on the smoother sandstone and granite.
I always carry my EPIRB and a Life Jacket(one of the old heavy orange types) when ever i go rock fishing. Just incase someone goes in and they arent tied off i can throw them the Life Jacket and the EPRIB and tell them to swim away from the rocks/cliff/danger area. Or if i accidently go in my fishing buddies can chuck it in for me. Point to note i NEVER cliff/rock fish alone, i always fish with someone i can rely on. I will only beach fish alone or off low to the water protected rocks.
I always carry rope with me when landbased fishing even in low to the water sheltered areas where i am not intending to tie off to, so that i can tie to my bucket to get water, same on Jetties.
But yeah a combination of the Anchor Points and Angel Rings would be better than only having one safety option or none!
pas
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 17/06/12
Guys,Good points here and
Guys,
Good points here and will let the comments flow a bit more.
The intention is not to interfere with anything already there like anchors or even silent sentries, but to have a few options out on the rocks and right now the Federal gov asked us to look at the angel rings as an option and as part of a pilot project.
Cheers
Stan