Salmon Holes Strikes Again

One dead, one missing. RIP.

It's got to be the most publicised dangerous place to fish in WA. Warning signs everywhere and people are still killing themselves there.

Last time I was on the rocks there I was tied on, had a self inflating life jacket on, rockhopper boots and an epirb on my belt. It was fairly flat and I felt a bit embarrassed next to the two rough looking bikie types next to me in shorts, singlets and thongs. They could obviously swim a lot better than me...

Feelings go out to the families. It's just not worth risking your life for a fish.


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Date Joined: 31/01/15

exactly 

Sat, 2015-04-18 11:32

exactly 

Leemo's picture

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don't even bother going to

Sat, 2015-04-18 12:44

don't even bother going to salmon holes. there are a lot safer, much better spots around the south coast - dont see what peoples obsession about climbing up a hellish amount of stairs with there necked limit of stinky salmon is...

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bludgin' since 94'

Posts: 242

Date Joined: 18/01/07

 When I heard the sirens I

Sat, 2015-04-18 13:32

 When I heard the sirens I said to my wife 'there goes another one of the gap or salmon holes''. My son was going to go there this morning with the I laws to do a beach clean-up and I said that it would be a hairy day even on the beach with a forecast 3-4m swell - not sure why you would bother chasing salmon in those conditions...

RIP to the victim(s) and my thoughts go to all the families and also the guys from RecFish and Fisheries who spend countless hours trying to educate the public. There are free life jackets at the Little Grove store; which almost everyone would drive past. 

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As a newbie going to the area

Sat, 2015-04-18 14:00

As a newbie going to the area who doesn't know much about fishing, where would you go?.... Maybe start with a place called Salmon Holes ?? Might be time to change it something more appropriate, like DEAD MANS ROCKS. for example. Should be unnecessary but don't think it would hurt. People that haven't fished these places or are inexperienced just don't understand, despite all the warnings etc.
Thoughts with the family who will have lost someone they love.

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Date Joined: 14/08/12

Good point.

Sat, 2015-04-18 20:06

Good point.

MattMiller's picture

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RIP

Sat, 2015-04-18 14:05

and condolences to the family but...

one can only shake their head when this happens again and again.

Once again with forecasted 3-4m swells people insist on fishing at dangerous locations in tretcherous conditions.

Most if not all of these incidents occur in conditions that are just NOT safe.

Please consider your family and friends before taking these unnecessary risks.

 

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Date Joined: 17/06/10

Condolances to the family

Sat, 2015-04-18 15:09

A sad loss, with so much effort put in by a lot of people to prevent such tragedies what more can be done to prevent things like this happening.

turtl3tim's picture

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Date Joined: 01/01/15

condolences to the

Sat, 2015-04-18 16:20

condolences to the family/families.

im not sure if they still are... but on the easter weekend just about every sports/tackle and petrol station around albany was handing out PFD's, no deposit required. flashing lights, massive LED boards with warnings posted all over them and caution signs all over the road and bill boards, apparently just arent enough.

+1 for the name change idea. until i researched the area i thort it would be a great place to fish with a name like 'the salmon holes', had no idea it had claimed so many lives.

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 Good things come to those who bait.

Posts: 99

Date Joined: 14/08/12

I've just seen the picture of

Sat, 2015-04-18 20:10

I've just seen the picture of the sea there this morning. I must have been standing 3 or 4 metres below the top of that white water when I was there. I can't believe anyone would consider going out on the rocks in those conditions. What have you got to do, fence it off?

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Date Joined: 14/08/12

Name Change - Dead Mans Rocks

Sat, 2015-04-18 20:43

The more I think about it the more this makes sense. I've just written to Albany council, The Saturday West, The Sunday Times and The Albany Advertiser to put the suggestion forward. Anyone else fancy contacting them? Perhaps we can make a difference. Warning signs clearly aren't working.

snappermiles's picture

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Date Joined: 05/11/10

bloody stupidity

Sun, 2015-04-19 07:13

with the swell it was that day you have got to be plain dum to fish there even with the best safety gear you can buy! there are so many places you could fish why risk your life and for salmon of all fish!

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dr_nasty's picture

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Date Joined: 02/03/12

 Life and death choices are

Sun, 2015-04-19 08:28

 Life and death choices are made on that rock. Locals understand the dangers, but tourists seem to think it is the best place to catch a Salmon because it is called 'Salmon Holes'. The just dont read the warning signs which are everywhere. Ignore at your own risk.

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Let that reel scream!

Uluabuster's picture

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Date Joined: 12/12/10

 Was there saw it happened,

Sun, 2015-04-19 10:30

 Was there saw it happened, my mate pulled the man from the water. But it was too late. Came out pale with swolllen tummy and frothing.

 Think they are Chinese national cos the group of folks surrounding the grieving next of kin were speaking mandarin. I think the danger warning was written in many languages so they have no excuses.

chris raff's picture

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 Sad news , condolences to

Sun, 2015-04-19 10:50

 Sad news , condolences to the family and friends .. I haven't fished there but some people just don't get it even with caution signs , could there be a option for the shire to just close it to fishing when the swells up like they do at the north mole which I presume is a lot less dangerous than the Salmon Holes .   

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Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”

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Its a sad state of affairs. A

Sun, 2015-04-19 12:06

Its a sad state of affairs. A name change is a good idea, but how about a bit of common sense. What were the parents doing watching them from the shore allowing them them to fish a black slopey rock in a 6 to 7 mtr swell. There lies the problem. Also, why did they tie off onto a slab of rock instead of the anchors that have been installed there ..

 

Cheers  SVO.

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Date Joined: 14/08/12

The problem with common sense is....

Sun, 2015-04-19 12:18

it's quite un-common. If everyone had it we wouldn't need speed limits. Fear is a good motivator. Dead Mans Rocks might create a bit.

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Date Joined: 04/01/12

Name change

Sun, 2015-04-19 12:25

 A name change is a good idea. Common sense - Yes, but not everyone has that & people do silly things. It wont be the last time & anything that can be done to dissuade people from fishing there should be considered. Apart from fishermen putting themselves in danger, how often do we hear of rescue atempts ending very badly.    

carnarvonite's picture

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Name Change

Mon, 2015-04-20 07:26

Changing the name won't alter anything. People will still fish there and go missing because it is a well known top producer of salmon on both the up and back runs.

The problem is getting the message out that there are easier spots to get to that produce as well if not better, less distance for Perth [where most of the visitors come from], not so crowded and in more sheltered locations.

When I fished there some forty years ago it was uncommon to have more than 2 or 3 groups of anglers there when salmon were running and now with the population doubled since then and more migrants and overseas tourists trying to get their thrill of catching one its understandable the extra pressure on the spot. As one comment said, closing the spot in heavy conditions might work but it doesn't stop the brainless idiots who will still have the mentality of "I have paid money to catch one and I am going to regardless"

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Date Joined: 14/08/12

I agree

Mon, 2015-04-20 18:01

I agree that people will always fish there because of the reputation it has amongst the locals and the wa fishing community. However, where a name change might help is when overseas or out of state visitors arrive in Albany thinking "where can we catch a fish?", get the tourist map out and see a place called The Salmon Holes they are going to make a Bee line straight for it. If it was called Dead Mans Rocks they probably wouldn't.

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Date Joined: 05/05/06

They closed the penguin

Mon, 2015-04-20 11:53

They closed the penguin island sandbar because of a few incidents, whats the difference? Im totally against blocking access...its the ocean, its dangerous. Fisherman have lost their lives for centuries in the pursuit of fish for dinner.  I still feel for the families tho.

Best option I read was making it a 4wd track only.

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Bend over

rigpig's picture

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Date Joined: 21/11/12

Not closed

Tue, 2015-04-21 08:26

 I live around the corner from Penguin Island and people still cross the sand bar all the time. Over the xmas break there is a lifeguard on a jetski who patrols the area and I have seen him turn people back who have small children with them. I'm not sure if the lifeguard is there all summer or not.. 

This last Christmas just gone I assisted four groups of stupid tourists who were in trouble crossing the sand bar. I put their kids and wives on my boat and went back and forth dropping them off. 

Walfootrot's picture

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Date Joined: 23/07/12

Blow the bloody thing up and

Mon, 2015-04-20 12:18

Blow the bloody thing up and be done with it, hazard removed.

Education not working, people not putting on life vests, best way to stop the deaths is to get rid of it

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More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!

turtl3tim's picture

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Date Joined: 01/01/15

 3 options here-1: close it

Mon, 2015-04-20 14:10

 3 options here-

1: close it down and ruin it for the people who do go prepared, and get to return home with a feed and a story.

2: do absolutely nothing and let people learn the hard way that all the signs are there for a reason. Those who go prepared still win, and those who are ignorant pay the price-so do their families unfortunately.

3: put in a whole bunch of safety rails, platforms, bins, sinks and lights and end up with the place being overfished by every man and his dog because it then becomes 'too accessible' itll be like the busselton jetty of albany. Let alone the struggle of trying to get in there afterwards.

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 Good things come to those who bait.

crasny1's picture

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That place just sux

Mon, 2015-04-20 14:19

What is the tally there now. Does anyone know. It must be adding up to a road toll type figure.

Never fished there, never will, even tied up and PFD. its the exit area thats a proble and far away. So need rescue boats most off the time.

So sorry for the tragic loss to the families involved.

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Walfootrot's picture

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How many jetties have been

Mon, 2015-04-20 14:59

How many jetties have been closed after damage from a storm has rendered them a danger and not safe to fish from?

They close the jetty to protect peoples lives.

People are dying here, not just 1 or 2 but a lot more, and yet it still remains open to the public.

Its just not worth the risk, bit like taking a boat out in 3-4m swell with a 3m sea, yer you can do it and you may get some fish.. but you could also not come back,

Are fish really worth the risk fishing here?

If the worst happens, how would your family feel and cope.

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More drum lines, kill the bloody sharks!

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Date Joined: 17/06/10

It is a real tragedy 2 lives lost

Mon, 2015-04-20 17:26

It will be another tragedy if the lock it up brigade have a win and another productive (that can be dangerous) fishing platform is removed from the rock hoppers menu.

A number of experienced fishers have said that it is inherently dangerous to fish that location in a 2-3 metre swell. I haven't fished there in a very long time.
Does anyone know if signs have been erected warning those not having prior experience at the location of the dangers associated with various swell heights.

At a quick glance at the report on the TV it appears that those sadly lost fishers took some steps to ensure their safety whilst fishing, so it appears that they had some idea of the dangers they would be confronted with.

Before we get a lot of knee jerk reactions put in place let's all just wait until there has been an enquiry into the tragedy and all the known facts placed on the table and examined.

Then ascertain what extra facilities may need to be put in place to mitigate the risk of injury or loss of life. May being the relative word.

Again, I extend my condolences to the friends and families of those so tragically lost.

quadfisher's picture

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Publicize the equiry

Mon, 2015-04-20 18:33

I have harped about this on here before , and will continue to do forever, all the boating , rock fishing , diving death enquires, by however

does them at the time , Wa Police , Wa coroner, etc , in Wa need to be publicized alot more , than they are ( a snippet on the 6pm news?)

Every fisherman in Wa , even a newby needs to know the name , salmon holes, as a place among others to take utmost caution.

Think about all the water related deaths in Wa in the last 5 years say , and how many full reports and learnings  have you personnally read and absorbed , not a bloody one

I would imagine , its like secret squirrell s--t ,  doing nobody any good.

That said , I for one believe in education , not lock outs, and hope so do the managers making the decisions , or we are all stuffed.

All I can find is this drowning report , that makes sober and statistical reading , between 2013 and 2014 , 30 people drowned in Wa.

but fishing and rock fishing still makes up only a small portion.

 

http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/11995/RLS_NDR2014_LR.pdf

 

 

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quadfisher

Leemo's picture

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 turns out the two blokes

Mon, 2015-04-20 18:55

 turns out the two blokes were roped together - but not roped to the anchor points....... bloody idiots 

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bludgin' since 94'

chris raff's picture

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 Think I’ll pass on fishing

Mon, 2015-04-20 19:47

 Think I’ll pass on fishing those rocks , I came across this article regarding safety concerns written just prior on April the 6th .. 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-06/rock-fishing-safety-ignored-at-wa-salmon-holes-despite-deaths/6372508

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Intelligence is like a four-wheel drive. It only allows you to get stuck in more remote places.”

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Hey Rigpig, sorry yeah not

Tue, 2015-04-21 11:15

Hey Rigpig, sorry yeah not closed forever. They have a big sign saying sandbar closed whenever the conditions are 'unsafe or becoming unsafe' you just have to walk around the corner to see it.  My mate a few months was 1/4 of the way back to the mainland and was told to walk back to the island and get the ferry. He didnt and shit hit the fan.  Good onya for helping the people out.

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Bend over

crasny1's picture

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So reading that story its 12

Tue, 2015-04-21 13:27

So reading that story its 12 deaths at the salmon holes. And by the look of the above picture more to come in the future. Can only see one tethered robe, and no PFD visible.

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"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk