Top weather tips for safe boating and fishing

The Bureau of Meteorology has compiled the following collection of handy tips and new tools to help you find the best time and place for safe fishing this summer.

Finding the perfect fishing spot is a fine art, but whatever secret location you choose to fish in this summer, the most important aspect of your search should be to ensure you won't get caught out by the weather.

This summer, BOM has made it even easier to check the weather and ocean conditions with the introduction of a few simple tools and tips.

1. The Bureau’s Tide Prediction portal has recently been upgraded to provide predicted tide heights and times for more than 700 locations around Australia. Check the extended weather forecast and the tides a few days before your fishing trip to help inform where and when might be the best and safest to go fishing. (As an aside, the incoming tide often co-incides with the biggest swells, although the run-out tide is usually more hazardous for crossing bars).

2. The Bureau's graphical mapping tool
MetEye can be used to visualise the weather forecast and zoom to any location. MetEye provides information on the height and direction of different swell conditions, as well as wind waves and total wave height. (Your crew at boatsales couldn't recommend this free service highly enough and it's our reliable go-to fishing and boating forecasting site.)

3. Rock fishing is a popular recreational activity but it’s also one of Australia’s most dangerous sports. The Bureau has developed a guide on

4. Rock fishers and boaters can also read up on a new blog that outlines how and when to check the weather, for rock fishers planning their next fishing trip, and other waterways users. The Bureau recommends three vital weather safety checks: tides, waves and winds.

5. The Bureau's new mobile BOM Weather App can be downloaded for free and used to check warnings, view the rain radar for current conditions, or to check the forecast for storms or strong winds. We use it and its great.

The Bureau of Meteorology's National Manager of Marine Weather Services, Neal Moodie, urges fishing enthusiasts to take advantage of these new tools intended to make fishing a more enjoyable and safe activity.

"Australians enjoy the great outdoors all year round. Stay safe by making the most of the Bureau's range of marine and ocean information when you go rock fishing. Be prepared to make alternate arrangements if conditions change."

For everything you need to know about boating weather head to the BOM Marine Weather Knowledge Centre at www.bom.gov.au/marine/knowledge-centre/index.shtml