Cleaner water and good consistent catches

Joe Allan

The Richmond River has been fishing well through the start of 2023. The water has cleaned up nicely since the mini flood on the Wilson and Richmond at the end of 2022.

This summer has seen some of the most consistent mangrove jack fishing for many years. Most feeder creeks have produced quality fish, but the rock walls along the main river, anywhere from Wardell to the mouth at Ballina, have definitely had the bigger sized fish. Early morning on daybreak or late afternoon are the peak times to try to catch these bad boys. Suspending jerkbaits and shallow to mid running slender crankbaits are the best tools to use. Lures that have really produced well are the Atomic Shiner 75 mid and the new Atomic Slim Twitcher 95, both in silver wolf colour. Most lures with some reflective or shiny silver finish with attract the fish.

The surface action in the freshwater reaches has been going well of late. Unweighted soft plastics such as small frogs are working well when skipped under trees. It’s a really fun way to fish. Using the correct hook can make fishing this style a lot easier and less frustrating, as you’re not having to fix your bait every second cast. I like using the Gamakatsu Skip Gap hook, which is designed to hold the soft plastic/frog up and in position longer than your standard EWG worm hook.

Cicada imitations, such as Atomic Cicadas, are still working well on those hot mornings when you wish you’d brought some ear muffs with you, as they’re just deafening.

Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits have also been producing good fish, and dark-coloured Bassman 3/8oz jigs have been accounting for some good catches, too. Pair these with a crawfish-looking trailer bait and you’ve got a good bass-catching combo. If you have not given these a go, they’re definitely worth a try.

There are some goodsize flatties still being caught along the Porpoise Wall and in Mobbs Bay. Live baits and heavy plastics on the last half of the run-out are always worth a shot, and small crankbaits and plastics up on the flats in Mobbs are solid performers –especially when the water is dirty towards the bottom half of the run-out.

There are some good numbers of bream getting caught off the beaches when the swell isn’t pumping too hard. The dart and tailor have been a little quiet, but you can start to try the gutters around Boundary Creek along South Ballina for some quality flathead. Blades, slugs and heavy soft plastics will do the trick if you can’t come across some fresh bait.

Offshore

Lately there have been some quality snapper on the 32s, as well as some goodsize trag. The mahimahi (dolphinfish) have still been very consistent off the FADs. Since mid-December, numbers of mackerel have not been around, although they started to show up more consistently in February. They have been all over place though; one day at Black Head and the next at Riordans Reef. They can be hard to keep track of. However, once you find them, if you have some livies and some wire you are sure to catch yourself a feed. Good luck everyone. Until next month, tight lines.

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