Three men not wearing lifejackets were pulled from the Tairua-Pauanui bar after their aluminium boat capsized in heavy surf this morning, Stuff Reports

The 60-year-old skipper and two men in their 40s were trying to cross the bar to go fishing at 8am when they were tossed overboard.

Harbour bars can be tricky to cross. Photo: file.

Police said they should have known better.

Coastguard recovered the two men in the water and surf lifesavers rescued a man from the rocks.

The trio escaped injury free.

The three men on board the five and a half metre boat were from Auckland and Australia, Senior Constable Matt Goodman said at the scene.

The skipper was a local holiday home owner and had travelled the bar countless times.

"He should have known better," Goodman said.

Boaties should listen for bar warnings and always assess a bar before entering, he said.

Lifejackets are mandatory when crossing a bar.

Two ambulances were waiting at the Pauanui wharf to assess the men once they were back on shore.

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Tairua-Pauanui Coastguard and Pauanui Surf Lifesaving Club IRB responded to the rescue.

The Coastguard say if things go wrong on a bar, a vessel's passengers are usually either thrown from the boat, or the boat is capsized, meaning they are at the mercy of the sea until such time as they can swim to safety, they are stumbled across by a boatie by chance, or they are reported overdue by someone ashore.

By filing a BARWATCH, you know that if things do happen to go wrong, you have already put steps in place to assist in your survival. Coastguard Volunteers train in search techniques, recovery techniques and rough water handling, and most rescue vessels are also equipped with high spec. night vision or thermal imaging gear.

This means that if the worst case scenario should happen, local Coastguard are well equipped to come to your rescue.

There are three things boaties can do to increase their odds when crossing a river or harbour bar:

1) Obtain local information and knowledge before attempting to cross a bar.

2) Wear a Lifejacket at all times when crossing a bar

3) File a BARWATCH report with your local coastguard before crossing a bar.

For more information on Bar Crossings, and to see some educational videos relating to local bars, please visit http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Recreational-Boating/Skipper-responsibilities/Bar-crossing.asp