On days like these, the fish are biting. The tide might look right, the swell feels manageable, the spot familiar. So you head out - just for a quick fish. Alone.
Fishing alone, especially from rocks or remote land-based spots, is one of the deadliest choices you can make. Because when something goes wrong, there’s no one there to change the outcome. In 2025, more than 55% of drowning deaths involved people who were alone.
Over the past decade, 56% of “alone” deaths started with a slip or fall. Coastal and river environments account for around half of these fatalities - where rock and land-based fishers operate.
The 2025 Drowning Prevention Report showed that more people died fishing from land than ever before: 10 deaths in 2025, double the 10-year average, and three more than the previous year.
Factors at play include
Many of those who drowned were confident, experienced fishers. But even the most seasoned can get into trouble when faced with a large wave, slippery rock or a small misstep on steep terrain.
A buddy can:
Alone? None of that happens. So stack the odds in your favour.
The ocean gives, but it can also take.