Fishing around Ballina

THE RICHMOND RIVER

The Richmond River from Burns Point to the tips of the sea walls, including North Creek and Emigrant Creek, comprise around 12 square kilometres of recreational fishing. This area encompasses more than 90% of the remaining seagrass beds in the estuary, with a huge variety of bream, whiting, flathead, jewfish, trevally, blackfish, mangrove jack and tailor living here.

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FISHING SPOTS AROUND BALLINA CBD

• The rocky banks behind the CBD from the swimming pool to the mouth of Fishery Creek
• The Lance Ferris Wharf in Fawcett Park provides excellent catches and is relatively safe for supervised younger anglers
• RSL Club jetty
• Riverview Park west of the RSL has a boat ramp, sheltered tables, toilets and BBQs
• Fishery Creek, on the western fringe of the CBD has the trawler harbour at its mouth and is also the site of the largest and most sheltered ramp on the river

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FISHING AROUND THE ROCKS AND BEACHES

• Various Rocky Headlands and beaches north to Cape Byron from Ballina
• South of Ballina to Evans Head also provide huge scope for surf anglers chasing jewfish, tailor, bream, dart, whiting, trevally and tuna. Vehicles are permitted on the beach from about a kilometre south of South Ballina, down to Airforce Beach at Evans Head
• Vehicles are also permitted along Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head, north to Broken Head. Access is just past the Sport and Recreation Camp. You will require a permit to drive on this stretch of beach. Permits are available from the automatic kiosk that is located opposite the Lennox Head Surf Club approaching Camp Drewe Road. Payment by Visa, Mastercard or debit card

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THE SEA WALLS

• The North and South walls offer the typical sort of breakwall fishing common elsewhere along the NSW coast for bream, tailor, blackfish and jewfish, with the occasional snapper after heavy seas and mackerel and tuna when the tropical current touches the shore
• North Wall access is great, you can even take the bicycle path from town, while South Wall is reached by crossing the Richmond River on the Burns Point vehicle ferry. Parking is adequate at both spots except when the surf's up and the fish are on

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WARDELL

The deep and fast running narrows at Wardell under the highway bridge are popular for school jewfish, especially on the slack of Summer night tides. Live herring or poddy mullet take plenty of fish, as do soft plastics and hard minnows

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ROCK FISHING

Ballina is one of five coastal NSW councils to be declared under the new Rock Fishing Safety Act to enforce the legislation of wearing a life jacket. This means all rock fishers must wear a lifejacket in high-risk locations including Lennox Headland, Iron Peg, Skennars Headland, Flat Rock, Black Head and Ballina Head. More info: watersafety.nsw.gov.au/rockfishing

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FISHING LICENCES

You can purchase a fishing licence from any of the following outlets.

• Ballina Visitor Information Centre - 6 River Street, Ballina
• KMart - Kerr Street, Ballina
• Ballina Beach Village, South Ballina 
• Ballina Bait & Tackle, Ballina West Shopping Centre

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BAIT AND TACKLE STORE

• Ballina Bait and Tackle, Ballina West Shopping Centre
• Hooked on Bait, Brewing & BBQ, 271 River St, Ballina (next to Shell service station)

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FISHING LINE DISPOSAL UNITS

Please dispose of your fishing lines safely and help protect our wildlife.

Ballina Harbour, Regatta Avenue, Eastern side of the harbour, alongside the Richmond River.

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BOAT RAMPS

• Burns Point Ferry Road, West Ballina
• Riverside Drive, West Ballina
• Boatharbour Road, West Ballina - includes fish cleaning table and tap
• River Street & Emigrant Creek Lane, West Ballina - includes fish cleaning table and tap
• Brunswick Street, Ballina
• Cawarra Street, Ballina - includes fish cleaning table
• The Spit, Kingsford Smith Drive, Ballina - includes fish cleaning tables and tap
• Seven Mile Beach (southern end) boat ramp south end vehicles permitted for launching and loading boats, no parking on the beach, includes fish cleaning table
• South Ballina Beach Village alos have a fish cleaning table and tap (for registered guests)

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BOAT HIRE

Enjoy a day on water by hiring a BBQ Boat or a tinny with a canopy from Ballina Boat Hire, 268 River Street, Ballina, 0402 028 767

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DEEP SEA FISHING TOURS

• Fozie's Fishing Adventures - 0427 834 376
• Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters - 0428 828 835
  

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LAST RESORT

• Northern Rivers Seafood - 480 River Street, West Ballina. Ph: 02 6686 2187
• Ballina Fisherman's Co-op - Cnr Keppel and River Street, West Ballina. Ph: 02 6686 2533

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DECKEE APP
Downlod the Deckee App to Receive important marine safety notices from participating maritime authorities. See speed zones, fishing spots, weather conditions, vessel positions, activity areas, restricted locations, and be aware of hazards and incidents near you.

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Click here to download a copy of the fishing guide