350 rock fishers representing 36 different spoken languages will descend on Little Bay on 12 September as Surf Life Saving NSW’s highly successful rock fishing safety and skills workshop, Gone Fishing, returns in 2026 for the first of nine coastal and in-community workshops.
Funded and supported by the NSW Government, the third iteration of the program will build on the success of the previous two – strengthening engagement with at-risk communities through targeted campaigns promoting life jacket usage and safer fishing practices.
Indeed, in 2025, the program reached a total of 20,000 people through nine crafted workshops and various other events across NSW, delivering 1,500 FREE life jackets to participants from more than 50 culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The initiative will deliver another nine Gone Fishing coastal and in-community workshops between now and March 2027, particularly targeting high-risk locations and demographics where rock fishing drowning deaths are disproportionately represented.
Huge numbers are anticipated at Little Bay on Saturday 12 September, and for good reason – the location itself is a noted rock fishing black spot, and over the past 25 years, there has been 24 rock fishing drowning deaths in the Randwick LGA.
“It’s such a simple message but an important one as well – life jackets save lives,” Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steve Pearce said.
“This is a multifaceted program that we’re very proud of, with continued targeted education events and in-water safety demonstrations along the coastline, and also directly into non-English speaking background communities away from coastal locations.
“In giving these communities access to the vital lifesaving equipment that they need, and exposure to the tools to understand safe fishing practices more thoroughly, we hope to make engaging in recreational rock fishing more safe as a whole.”
Between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, there were 11 rock fishing and rock platform-related drownings in NSW.
That’s what makes the upcoming programs so important, with crucial knowledge being imparted by leading agencies in the space.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Maritime NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology, Surf Life Saving First Aid Training & Services, and several experienced rock fishers and survivors of serious incidents will all help to deliver what promises to be an all-encompassing safety workshop.
“These collaborations allow us to get the right messages to the right people,” Gone Fishing program lead, Emily Cook said.
“Our reach will be far beyond just these workshops as well – the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) will be engaged through TAFE NSW campuses to reach newly arrived and culturally diverse communities, and we will be further trialling lifejacket library sites, like we did in Maroubra in June, to increase access to free safety equipment in high-risk locations.”
All rock fishers, locals and visitors alike are encouraged to make use of this FREE resource and stay safe while enjoying one of Australia’s most loved pastimes. Dates and locations are below, with more information available on the Beach Safety Hub.
Anybody considering going rock fishing is strongly urged to wear a lifejacket, non-slip footwear and light clothing. People should have an understanding of changing tides and swell conditions. It is strongly recommended that people learn to swim before attempting rock fishing.
2026/27 Program Dates
2026
Saturday 12th September – Little Bay
Saturday 26th September – Kurnell
Saturday 17th October – Bondi
Saturday 31st October – Batemans Bay
Saturday 21st November – Liverpool
2027
Saturday 6th February – Canterbury/Bankstown
Saturday 20th February – Cumberland
Saturday 6th March – Hurstville
Saturday 20th March – Parramatta
Thursday 10 September 2026