THE family of the Port Macquarie fisherman whose body was found on Sunday have asked the media not to publish his name, a spokesman for NSW Police said on Monday afternoon.
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The 46-year-old's body was discovered about 3.30pm on Sunday, roughly one kilometre north of Miners Beach. The experienced fisherman's equipment was found several hours earlier on some rocks off Lighthouse Road.
Meanwhile, authorities are continuing their search for a man missing near Forster. READ MORE HERE
The chief of NSW Police's Marine Area Command warned rock fishermen and anglers to be aware of dangerous surf conditions. Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings said the incident reinforced the need for extreme caution when fishing along the coastline.
"This tragic incident has again highlighted the need for anglers to be vigilant when they venture onto rocks," he said.
"Extreme caution should be exercised whenever you are near the waterline but, with bigger surf conditions, anglers need to constantly consider their location and availability of safety equipment.
Detective Superintendent Hutchings said rock fishermen and anglers need to wear appropriate shoes and a life jacket, and check the current tides, swell and weather forecasts when heading out.
"Even if you are aware of the forecast, have a careful look at conditions before venturing onto a rock platform, continue to monitor for any deterioration in conditions and never fish by yourself," he said.
"The message is clear: it could be very risky to be rock fishing along the coast in coming days."