Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
August 15, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says bream through the river are OK but sliding upstream as the water clears.
Blackfish have been OK and coming onto the green weed as the water clears, with catches of around 10 not unusual.
A few flathead and the shallows in the main river.
Tailor around the walls and headlands have been the best bet, with salmon to 5kg breaking a few people’s hearts when they think they’ve hooked a jewie.
Tony Zann’s weekly fishing report
August 9, 2008
Mandy at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there are nice bream all through the river and some tailor off the beaches and North Wall.
Still a few jewfish at night in the river behind the police station and upstream.
Blackfish off the walls and a few at Prospect Bridge but weed is still hard to get.
No outside reports.
Mann, Nymboida rivers closed to fishing during cod breeding season
July 31, 2008
Survival of an endangered fish has been boosted by the decision to close the Mann and Nymboida rivers to all fishing during the eastern freshwater cod’s (EFC) breeding season.
For the first time, this August a three-month fishing ban will come into force to protect EFC when they are most vulnerable and the penalty for fishing in the closure zone can be a fine up to $22,000.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) senior conservation manager, John Pursey, said the fishing ban from August until October was based on scientific research and public consultation.
“We’ve found that EFC are vulnerable during their breeding season and any fishing near brooding EFC can have a devastating effect on this endangered fish population,” Mr Pursey said.
NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekend report
July 25, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says the rain is adding colour to the water and will bring on the bream in the lower reaches.
A few flathead around in North Creek and in the shallows in the main river.
Tailor have been going quite well around the walls and headlands, with the odd jewfish on hard and soft lures.
Blackfish were good but the fresh could see them turn to yabby baits instead of weed.
Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
July 18, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says bream are going well along the Porpoise Wall and the Bream Hole with soft plastics OK during the day and smelly gut baits working a dream at night.
A few flathead are poking about on the shallower banks and blackfish have come right on and there’s some green weed available.
Tailor have been great around the headlands and beaches, with some decent fish among them.
The close reefs have snapper biting plastics well and there are pearlies and snapper on the wider grounds. Still plenty of jackets on the wider reefs.
Fish Attraction Devices removed for winter maintenance
July 16, 2008
Six North Coast fish aggregating devices (FADs) will be removed for winter maintenance and returned to the water for the start of the summer fishing season in October, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said.
Minister Macdonald said the devices are used to attract fish and enhance recreational fishing in NSW by creating an alternative to traditional fishing grounds.
“These devices will be removed from Byron Bay, Ballina, Evans Head, Wooli, Coffs Harbour and South West Rocks,” he said.
“They work best when the seawater temperature is greater than 20ºC, so they are serviced during the winter months to ensure longevity.
NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekend report
July 11, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there are quite a few bream in the lower reaches of the Richmond River.
Also some nice size flatties in North Creek and the main river, especially in the shallows during the day as they sun themselves.
Blackfish have been great around Prospect Bridge and along the Porpoise Wall but black weed is the only stuff available.
A lot of undersized school jew up-river from Pimlico but a few more decent ones in with them.
NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekend report
July 4, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there are quite a few bream in the lower reaches, with night fishos getting their bag limits on smelly baits like mullet gut and chicken gut.
Through the day, the lure anglers have been getting a few nice ones along the Porpoise Wall and along the Town Reach.
Still a few flathead around in the shallows with North Creek proving quite OK for them.
Blackfish have come right on the chew although green weed remains a problem, try cabbage or, if you can find it, some black weed.
NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekly report
June 27, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says quite a few bream are in the lower reaches and the size is improving a little, with gut and flesh baits working best.
Water clearing on the high tide.
A few flatties in the shallower spots warming themselves in the sun.
Blackfish fairly good but weed supply is still a huge problem and most catches have been on cabbage and black weed.
NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s report
June 20, 2008
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says bream have been pretty fair along the Town Reach and are starting to head up-river a little.
A few blackfish getting about but no weed available, so find your own if you’re able to and reap the rewards.
Mud crabs still in North Creek but heading upstream.
Main shakers and movers are the tailor to a couple of kilos around the headlands and walls and a good run of jew around the headlands and walls on hardbodies and soft plastics. Also a few jew behind the CBD at night on live baits.
