Tony Zann’s 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 there are quite a few bream along the Town Reach and around the walls, with just the odd fish nudging a kilo.
Still a few flatties in the shallows in North Creek and the main river. The fish are there in the daytime soaking up the sun – wouldn’t you? Blackfish have been quite OK on the walls on cabbage bait.
North Creek has been a little dirty from the rain although there have been a few blackfish there, but they’re of better size and numbers along the Porpoise Wall and in Mobbs Bay.
A few small school jew from Pimlico Island to Wardell, as usual.
The main action has been on bigger jewfish around the walls and headlands on hard and soft lures. Fish to about 18kg and down are working the rough water.
Still a few tailor around depending on the surf conditions.
Offshore has been a write-off all week.
Similar offshore frustrations at Evans Head, with a few daredevils dashing over the bar last weekend and coming home with their tails between their legs once they’ve rounded Joggly Point or Snapper Rock and been hammered by the southerly. Westerly gusts to 25 knots here Friday mean the bar is OK but the whitecaps start about 200m out and the horizon looks like a saw blade. Wind is icy, blowing straight off the New England snow.
Blackfish have been OK around the walls on the rising tide and also on the bridge approach, with a few bream in the same spots. The odd quality whiting lingering in the shallows upstream and flathead well upstream over the shallow black mud.
Swell has been up a bit much for the rocks most days but a few bream and school jew have come in. Beaches have been a write-off but should come good over the weekend.
Tony Zann t.zann@fishingmonthly.com.au
