'No fish is worth dying for': Boaties share harrowing experiences crossing the Manukau Bar

Boaties have shared harrowing experiences crossing the Manukau Bar, after a death on the harbour in October.

Coastguard said six people had died in bar crossing accidents this winter across the country.

At Coastguard's Manukau Harbour bar crossing safety seminar in Titirangi, Connor Shawtoomey and Norm Shadbolt told RNZ they wanted some tips after a "rough time" returning from fishing in the mighty Manukau.

"We got a wave that hit us side on and nearly tipped us over," Shadbolt said.

Shawtoomey said he learnt to "listen to the experts" after that close call.

Joshua Davis, who is a member of the Manukau Sport Fishing Club, badly injured his spine crossing the Hokianga Bar in Northland.

"I thought it would be cool to film us crossing the bar. I didn't have all points of contact on the boat and as a result we went off the back of a wave. I hit the deck pretty hard."

Having all points of contact means your feet and hands are firmly holding onto the boat.

Davis said listening to local experts helped him successfully cross the Manukau Bar and get home safe to his wife and newborn baby.

"You get pretty anxious and nervous. You want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

"It [the bar] takes many lives every year.

"No fish is worth dying for."

Experienced boatie, Andrew Messent, who crossed the Manukau Bar hundreds of times, said he had rescued several people who were unprepared, including kayakers.

The Titirangi seminar was the first he had attended since completing his Day Skipper course 20 years ago.

He was motivated to brush up on his knowledge after a spike in incidents on the harbour.

"Lately quite a few people have made the wrong decisions and got themselves into trouble.

"Sometimes we learn lessons the hard way.

"You feel experienced because you have done a lot of boating but a lot is changing out there; our boats, our technology, they no longer survey the Manukau Harbour for its depth and its markers."

Markers like mountains help boaties cross a bar in the best spot.

More than 1200 people had attended seminars nationwide since Coastguard began its Bar Awareness Roadshow in August.

Bar safety project lead at Coastguard Tautiaki Moana, Simon Marshall, said attending a seminar saved someone's life during a recent Manukau Bar rescue.

"We had a gentleman whose boat capsized earlier this year. He's crossed the bar hundred of times.

"He attended one of our courses and was very glad to have that information in an emergency situation."

Marshall, who is a volunteer for the Titirangi Coastguard unit which operates the Manukau Harbour, said the Manukau Bar was notoriously difficult, with hundreds of people getting injured each year.

"All bars have their own unique risks, but Manukau in particular is right on Auckland's doorstep, so it's more accessible to people.

"Our west coast has more swell on a regular basis than our east coast. There is always a swell to contend with and huge amounts of currents."

Coastguard has held safety seminars for over a decade, but Marshall said its new roadshow format had seen record numbers.

"It's really community driven. It's all about our volunteers sharing everything they know to avoid tragedies on the bars.

"I've been quite surprised that it's not just new boaties wanting to gain that experience for the first time. There's quite a few salty old sea dogs turning up."

He said fishers will always cross bars to get their catch, but need to regularly check in with local experts to do it safely.

"Crossing a bar is about the most dangerous thing you can do on your recreational boat.

"Local knowledge is the key and that has to be refreshed pretty regularly.

"There's not just a course you can do and then you're fine for the next 10 years. It's something you have to be really up to speed with."