Ballina, Evans Head weekly fishing report
NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekly fishing report for Ballina and Evans Head …
Bruce at Dave’s Bait shop says whiting are the big movers this week on the larger tides with Pimlico Island the centre of attention and bloodworms the must-have bait.
A few decent flathead down the bottom reches of the river but most of the eating-size fish are around the stretch from Pimlico to Wardell. Quite a few decent jew from Pimlico to Wardell.
A little colour in the water has stirred the mud crabs a little but they’re still in the upper reaches and well up the creeks.
Beaches have been OK for whiting, dart and flathead, with a few signs of the summer chopper tailor and a few better quality fish at night.
Outside the water is warming and there have been quite a few baby black marlin getting caught and reports of a few mackerel in the 32-fathom reefs area where the water is warmer than in close. Kingie jiggers have been having fun on the 48-fathom reefs.
Evans Head action has picked up nicely with the water warming and reports of wahoo and marlin from the wider grounds where the jiggers have also been cleaning up on kings, amberjack and some decent pearlies. No confirmed reports of mackerel yet.
Beaches have some good formations and are holding reasonable stocks of whiting and dart with the odd fair bream and flathead to spice things up.
There are some decent whiting and the odd quality flathead in the river – get onto them quickly because the influx of visitors over the next few days means they’ll cop a hammering.
