Capping off a safer season: Lifesavers on the second-last day of patrols at Freshwater Beach on Saturday. Photo: James Brickwood

Red and yellow flags are being pulled out of the sand at beaches across the state as volunteer surf lifesavers hang up their swimmers for the season.

The end of the extended Easter and Anzac Day holiday break marks the last day of surf patrols by all volunteer lifesavers, and some paid lifeguards, for the 2013-14 season, in which there has been a drop in the number of drownings.

Surf Life Saving NSW said the season had been busy, with 4644 rescues performed since June last year.

There have been 23 drownings since June, down from the previous season with 48 drownings across the state.

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Surf Life Saving NSW lifesaving manager Andy Kent said this year's numbers were ''very pleasing'', and partially attributed them to the relatively high number of days on which lifesavers closed beaches because of dangerous surf, as well as beachgoers taking heed of the safety messages.

''Hopefully it's because our messages are getting through and the public have been taking care of themselves, staying between the flags at patrolled beaches and being prepared before they venture off to the beach or on to rock platforms,'' he said.

Mr Kent said there had been three shark attacks in NSW.

''There's been a lot of media focus on shark attacks this year, but still the likelihood of attacks is very rare and more people drown from being in rips and on rock shelves or in boating incidents than they do being attacked by sharks,'' he said.

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More beachgoers take notice of surf safety message