Page 46 - BNB Fishing mag | May 2020

SHomething fishy to focus on
ELLO and welcome to this baits such as squid and pilchards.
month’s digital edition of BNB. Ballina Bait & Tackle The odd kingfish has been hooked on Well with so much going on in the nearby pinnacles, but the better-quality
world over the past month, it has been diffi- by BRETT HYDE kingies are out a little wider and have been
cult to focus on fishing. In coming months I will endeavour to make more of an effort to focus on fishing because this may be one small piece of normality I can cling to.
the past couple of weeks, and I am hopeful that, weather permitting, we should see them for the next month or so.
mixed in with bar cod closer to the conti- nental shelf.
I’m sure each and every one of you has had some part of your life affected by the current pandemic. I hope all our readers stay safe and well and are able to continue to fish in the future.
Live baits including slimy mackerel and yellowtail have tempted fish very easily. Blue pilchards have worked too and a few fish have even shown interest in metal spinners retrieved at high speed.
Perhaps the warmer water in close is keeping the kingfish out a little wider in the cooler water.
For now, most states are still permitting people to fish for food-gathering purpos- es or as exercise, but please remember to maintain social distancing when fishing. Please only fish with members of your immediate household or one other person.
As you would expect, most anglers have had to use wire trace to stop the razor gang from biting them off. I would expect as the season goes on you will have to drop to really light wire to entice a bite as the schools become more hesitant after the constant boat traffic and fishing pressure on them.
The 32-fathom line is seeing quality flathead and smaller snapper turn up for anglers. It has been difficult to fish indi- vidual pinnacles due to the current, but the flathead have been spread across the sand, which has made them a much easier target at present.
To help stop the spread of the virus, ensure you wash your hands regularly if you need to use any items others may have come in contact with.
Back on the rock platforms, we have seen a reasonable run of tailor along with a few bonito and even tuna. The usual baits of pilchards and mullet have tempted the tailor.
As far as the fishing goes, it has been pretty good. The offshore fishing has been fairly consistent, with catches of both spot- ted and spanish mackerel reported.
If you really don’t want to play in the crowds on the close reefs, then mahi mahi may be more to your liking. Some quality fish have been hanging around the FAD and wave rider buoy over the past few weeks.
Most of the bonito and the tuna have been captured using metal spinners or large poppers and stickbaits fished across the surface.
The close reefs such as Black Head and Riordans have been producing fish over
As is usually the case, live baits have been the best, but a number of larger fish have also been taken on skirted trolled lures.
The most important thing is to have some bait schools in close enough to the rocks to entice the predators within casting distance.
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Bright colours have produced better num- bers, but it may also pay to run a dark colour in the spread because a few of the larger fish have taken darker colours.
If you are going to fish the rocks, please make sure you let someone know when you are going and when you have returned.
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Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, May 2020
A mix of baits and lures has worked, but the common theme is you need to keep your presentations in close to the walls be- cause the bream do not seem comfortable to move far from structure.
BALLINA WEST SHOPPING CENTRE
Flathead, on the other hand, have been spread around the sand flats, and as the water has continued to clear we have seen them move further upriver.
Colour choice may also be dictated by the conditions on the day, so make sure you have a few options. The current has been hovering around 1.5-2 knots of late, which has also made bottom fishing a reasonable option.
Try to fish with a friend if you can so there is someone there to help you in case of an emergency, and if you are at all con- cerned about the conditions, then please don’t risk your life.
Good-quality pearl perch have been com- ing from the 42 and 48-fathom lines on
The last rain event seems to have been just the catalyst we needed in the Rich- mond River as well. Fishing over the past few weeks has been very encourag- ing, with good-quality bream showing up around the rock walls in the lower reaches.
Flat Rock, Black Head, Iron Peg and the breakwalls have all been worth checking out at the usual times of sunrise and sun- set, but a few fish have also been taken during the day on the tide changes.
A number of solid fish are still below the Burns Point Ferry, but we are seeing more fish between the ferry and Wardell Bridge.
On the run-out tide, the water still has colour in it, so stick with brighter colours for lures or oily baits such as pilchards and mullet and try to target the deeper drop-offs near the sandbanks in this part of the river.
Well that’s all from me this month. ‘Til next time, tight lines!
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