Ballina

Bumper Ballina snapper

BALLINA Joe Allan

September brings with it the opening of the Australian bass season in NSW. This time of the year can bring with it some of the most aggressive strikes as well as good numbers of fish catches.

The fish are generally on the move in most tidal systems and looking to head back upriver after the spawn of the early winter months. Searching and fast-moving baits like spinnerbaits and either a single no. 1 hook on the belly or no. 4s on both belly and rear hook points. I like to go for two no. 4 Gamakatsus. This allows me to slowly retrieve my lures over timber without as many problems.

The bream will be around in very good numbers through the middle reaches of the river around Broadwater and Wardell this month. Fresh prawns and yabbies are always the best baits at this time of year – the fresher the better. If you’re into throwing lures, a good approach at this time of 4lb leader (6ft to 7ft). This should bring on a few more bites. Keep your crankbaits handy as well because the fish should start to hold on the rock walls rather than the deeper holes.

There have been some nice catches of jewfish both offshore and in the river in recent weeks, with the best seeming to come from the night-time expeditions. Live bait, such as mullet or slimies, has been by far the standout.

There have also been some snapper in good numbers and quality size

Michael Starkey with a cracker of a snapper caught at Riordans Reef on an Atomic Semi Hardz Vib.

lipless crankbaits can be some of the most productive choices for this time of year. If you’re worried about the treble hooks of a lipless crankbait snagging up, try swapping out the trebles for year is to start by throwing 1/4oz blades deep and work your way shallow up the rock walls until you find the active fish. If there has been some pressure on the fishery, drop your line size to 6lb or whiting, tailor, bream and dart. It can be great fun with young kids.

The blackfish numbers will start to dwindle around the end of August and start of September, although there will still be a few good fish around.

Until next month.

Brodie McPherson with a nice snapper offshore from Ballina in the middle of winter.

amberjack around the 48s. Towards the end of September we should see some mud crabs show up. The best baits for these this time of year are your leftover blackfish skeletons. Off the beaches and headlands there are some quality tailor showing up.

Get out your spinning gear and throw metal slugs for these fish. It can be a great way to spend a morning and catch some fresh fish for breaky. At night, try some cut bonito and blue pilchards on gang hooks. There are some good numbers of dart and whiting along the gutters of South

Ballina, and you’ll come across some pretty nice snowy bream too. Towards the end of September when the westerlies start to blow the swell flat, it’s worth throwing some soft plastics “Yamba Prawn Blades” into these gutters. You’ll get everything from flathead to

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around the close reefs off south Ballina. Most of the fish are in the 35-50cm range with the odd bigger fish of around 70-80cm thrown in there. If you’re after a feed, there’s plenty around. The best baits for snapper Harrison Clements can’t stop catching these things would be cut bonito or along the town stretch of river when the tide is right. squid, however the bigger fish will be coming on soft plastics like the Atomic Jerk Minnow 6” in ghost pearl, white or radioactive rooster.

Don’t be caught up in chasing the snapper in close on good days. If the weather allows, get out to the 100 fathoms and try for some blue-eye trevalla and bar cod. Good baits for these guys are fresh squid and cuttlefish. It can be a hard work on traditional tackle fishing this deep so electric reels are essential in this style of fishing.

On the 32s there are good numbers of pearl perch and trag jew, and if you’re after having your arms pulled off, try jigging for some