Ballina, Evans Head fishing report
NSW Fishing Monthly editor TONY ZANN reports on the fishing at Ballina and Evans Head …
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says whiting have been good and should improve further on the bigger tides over the next week, especially around Pimlico Island. As usual, bloodworms will catch far more than any other bait but you might have to order or reserve some because they could be in short supply.
Some decent flathead in the lower river on live baits but the eating-size fish have been between Pimlico and Wardell and they’re thick, with a fish every cast a possibility once you’ve found the school. Small school jew are around the Wardell bridge at night with live herring the prime bait.
A few small chopper tailor along the beaches through the days with better quality fish during the nights. Most of the beaches are producing whiting and flathead.
Water has gone a bit cold outside in close but a nice warm line around the 32-fathom reefs is carrying some wahoo, baby black marlin and even the odd sprinkling of mackerel. A couple of Spaniards also caught around Lennox Head earlier in the week . A few snapper and pearl perch on the wider grounds with some good reds caught on soft plastics to 6kg around Riordans in close.
At Evans Head the first mackerel of the season have been coming from the southern reefs although it’s a bit hit-and-miss at the moment and depends on the northerly winds staying away for them to continue.
Plenty of boats have been out, with carparks at both ramps pretty near full.
Some squire and other stuff on the closer reefs with kings, reds, pearlies and even a few marlin on the wider reefs.
Beaches have whiting, dart and a few flathead with patches of tailor coming through earlier in the week but mostly just choppers or below-legals.
The river is copping a hiding from so many anglers but there are whiting and flathead around. Mud crabs are going OK around the golf club but you’d better keep an eye on your traps with so many people around.
