Elementary Rockhopping by Jamie Robley

One of the most popular and productive styles of fishing along the NSW coastline is rockhopping.

For many years I've enjoyed catching all sorts of fish off the rocks and have seen many others hook into plenty. However, our coastal headlands and rock platforms aren't easy places for the beginner to start, so here I've put together a number of tips which should result in a few tasty fish on the dinner table.

SAFETY FIRST

The very first thing anyone who fishes the rocks should be aware of is safety - more people die fishing off the rocks than during any other sport or pastime in Australia.

Staying safe on the rocks comes from a combination of understanding weather forecasts, being able to make judgments when looking at the sea, wearing appropriate clothing and simply using a bit of commonsense.