Rescuers used abseiling equipment to reach the beach

John Bryan Harris, 68, from the Bideford area died at Porthcothan near Padstow on Saturday after trying to free a tangled line.

His son Michael John Harris, 39, also from the Bideford area was also swept into the sea and died.

Last month an 18-year-old man was swept to his death from rocks at nearby Treyarnon Bay.

Malcolm Gilbert from the National Federation of Sea Anglers said the sport had inherent dangers, but they could be avoided.

He said: "Every time this happens, the angling press offer pages of advice on how to avoid tragedy.

"Fishing may be enjoyable, but it is not worth risking life and limb."

The north Devon family, including the pensioner's wife, had been fishing from rocks in rough seas on Saturday evening.

Postmortem examinations on the bodies will be held on Monday.

Lifeboats from Padstow and Newquay, a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and a coastguard team from St Merryn were involved in attempts to save the men.