KEY POINTS:
All Black legend Michael Jones is not one to flinch in the face of physical force but when he saw the power of waves breaking around fishing enthusiasts at an Auckland west coast beach yesterday he urged them to think of their safety.
Jones was visiting one of the country's most popular but dangerous fishing spots - Flat Rock, at Muriwai - determined to help a public campaign trying to make fishers more safety conscious.
When he walked on to the rock, a dozen fishers were intent on their sport, defying waves splashing over the slippery perch they favour because it juts out into the deep, rip-torn Tasman Sea swell.
But he quickly spotted a Pacific Island couple, Sisifo and Peter Aumua of Avondale, and after a few minutes' chatting was draping new inflatable lifejackets over their shoulders.
Mr Aumua, aged 67, welcomed the gift. He said he had taken his surfcaster to the spot regularly in the past 40 years "come rain, wind or sunshine". He said he could swim but for a time had worn a type of jacket that incorporated a buoyancy vest. This had been stolen with his boat and he had not replaced it.
Mr Aumua said he had not seen anyone washed off the rock but one day 14 years ago, when he was not there, a friend had died after falling in and striking his head.
"A lifejacket is the safest way to go," said Jones, remarking that Mr Aumua was already heeding an important part of his safety message - not to wear gumboots or heavy clothing which would hamper swimming out of the surf rip to land.
"Too many lives have been lost rock fishing, though people love it because it's a poor man's way to fish - you don't need a boat. But our beautiful beaches can be harsh and should be treated with respect."
The education campaign is nearing the end of a three-year trial carried out by Auckland Regional Council, WaterSafe Auckland and Surf Life Saving Northern Region.
ARC parks chairman Sandra Coney said since the trial started, west coast rock fishing deaths had reduced and more fishers wore lifejackets.
Education had focused on the Asian community because many Chinese and Korean people had drowned.
A survey of 112 fishers by Dr Kevin Moran, of Auckland University, found the project may have started to influence a group traditionally resistant to wearing flotation aids.
But it was a concern that more than half of the fishers said they never wore a lifejacket and one in three said they often turned their back to the sea and drank alcohol while fishing.
