Keep a careful watch on waves when fishing from the rocks. Photo / Geoff Thomas
The first fatalities in the water of the holiday season have occurred, and are sad reminders of the need to treat our waterways with respect.
The type of accidents that claim lives do not vary much. They involve people getting into trouble on beaches or harbours when swimming or fishing, including setting nets or pots.
Conditions can change quickly, trapping inexperienced people in what appears to be shallow water but contains a hole or gut which has been gouged out by waves.
Or it may be the incoming tide which changes quickly on shallow harbours such as the Manukau Harbour.
Currents on beaches can also change in different conditions and different tides.
Boating accidents are more common, and invariably involve a lack of lifejackets which is a simple mistake and contravenes the law.
It is mandatory to have a lifejacket for every person on a pleasure boat (commercial vessels are subject to more stringent regulations), and the device must fit the individual.
It is the skipper's responsibility to ensure compliance, and there are serious legal consequences for not doing this.
It is also the skipper's responsibility to ensure all passengers wear lifejackets in situations where the risk increases, such as in rough conditions or when crossing a bar.
Be aware that the tide will change every six hours, and what may have been benign conditions at a bar or in a channel can be totally different six hours later when returning. The Motuihe Channel, for example, can be very rough when large tides oppose the wind.
Lifejackets must be easily accessible at all times, and some local bylaws require lifejackets to be worn at all times in boats under 6m - the ones in which most fatalities occur.
Also, children and non-swimmers should wear lifejackets at all times in boats smaller than 6m.
Recent changes to the law require everybody on such boats to wear a lifejacket unless the skipper deems it not necessary. But accidents can happen quickly and without warning, and it is almost impossible to put on a lifejacket when in the water so common sense should prevail.
The other situation which can lead to drowning accidents is fishing from rocks. The best fishing is usually found where the water is moving - currents sweeping past or waves stirring up the sea. But these are also dangerous conditions, and lack of experience can lead to tragedy.
Among the vulnerable are new immigrants who have no experience of such situations and may be caught by a large wave while collecting shellfish or setting pots for crabs.
The authorities erect signs in different languages at popular spots such as the rocky shelf at Muriwai Beach. But it comes back to personal experience and responsibility.
Several golden rules apply when fishing from the rocks.
Don't turn your back on the sea for you never know when a large, rogue wave will appear. Prepare an escape route if you do fall in, and wear a lifejacket rather than a heavy coat and gumboots.
Be aware of the rising tide and how conditions will change. If you are unfamiliar with the area watch the sea for a time before climbing down to the rocks to see how far the waves sweep over the rocks. Not all waves are the same, and usually every seventh or eighth will be a larger one.
Coastal holiday destinations will be busy with the annual influx of visitors, making fishing hard as boats and water toys invade the beaches.
The best chance of having fresh fish for dinner is to be out before dawn and home by breakfast.
Fresh water
Harling in the morning and evening is producing good results on the Rotorua lakes.
Jigging and deep trolling are also going well on Lakes Tarawera and Rotoiti, but are harder on Lake Okataina. Fly fishing at the Log Pool has been good at dusk, however.
More fishing action can be found on Rheem Outdoors with Geoff, 6.30am Saturday, TV3, and at GTTackle.co.nz.