Rock fishing safety

Rock fishing weather safety checks

Rising tides, high tides, large waves and strong winds can be dangerous to rock fishers.

Before you go to your favourite rock fishing spot, check the:

wave forecast
tide times
wind forecast
marine warnings
weather forecast.

Graphic of 5 weather icons on plain grey background. Text reads – Going rock fishing? Do the 5 vital weather safety checks. 1. Wave conditions. 2 Tide times. 3 Wind conditions. 4 Marine warnings. 5 Changing weather. Know your weather. Know your risk.

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Before you go rock fishing, check the forecast waves, tide, wind, warnings and weather

Wave and swell forecast

Before going rock fishing, check the wave and swell conditions in the local and coastal waters forecast for your area.

Conditions can change fast along the coast. Check the forecast regularly while rock fishing and watch for changes in the waves and swell.

Waves and swells of any size could sweep you off your rock fishing spot if they catch you by surprise.

Large swells can travel a long way from where they formed. They can break powerfully when they reach shallow water or rock ledges. These waves can come as a surprise, as there can be long periods of calm (lulls) between sets of waves.

Learn more about different types of waves, seas and swell in our Marine knowledge centre.

Find out more about warnings for waves and hazardous surf on our Marine hazards and warnings page.

Tide times

Changing tides can create hazards by influencing the behaviour of waves, currents, and water levels.

Rising tide brings surging waves which may break unexpectedly onto the rocks where you may be fishing.

Key things to know about tides:

water levels rise quickest 2–3 hours around mid tide
rising and high tide is when wave conditions can change rapidly
tide times change every day and in different locations
it takes about 6 hours to change from low to high tide
the weather can change the predicted tide levels.

If the tide rises faster or higher than you are expecting, you may find:

your exit path to safe dry rocks is blocked
waves may break onto the rocks where you are fishing
water may start washing over your legs and feet
you may be swept into the water.

What to check every time you fish:

low tide – this is when the tide will start rising
mid tide – the tide rises quickest around this time
high tide – in most places, this is reached about 6 hours from low tide. In some locations, it can be about 12 hours.
weather forecasts – strong onshore winds can indicate that tide levels may be higher than predicted.

Check the tide times before you go rock fishing. You'll find this information on our current website – we're still building this new one.

Group of people fishing from a rock ledge on the coast. Sun is setting in the background, casting soft orange light across the calm ocean.

Fishing off the rocks along the coast at sunset

Wind forecast

Wind, gusts and squalls can change wave and swell conditions at your rock fishing location.

Winds over 15 knots can:

create hazardous waves
make tide levels higher than predicted
make you lose your balance on the rocks.

Learn more about wind, gusts and squalls in our Marine knowledge centre.

Marine warnings

Rock fishing may become unsafe in some weather conditions.

Before you go rock fishing, check the marine forecasts and warnings for:

hazardous surf
marine wind warnings
coastal hazard warnings for damaging surf and abnormally high tides
severe weather warnings for damaging winds and heavy rain
severe thunderstorm warnings for damaging wind gusts, heavy rain and large hail.

Learn more about marine warnings for other weather conditions on our Marine weather hazards and warnings page.