Richmond River Fishing Spots

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Richmond River

Overall
Saltwater
New South Wales | North Coast

3.7/5 - (9 votes)

28°52'23.93" S, 153°32'43.25" E

The Richmond River is a long complex river extending from the Queensland/New South Wales border west of Mount Lindesay where it meets the ocean at Ballina. It has the 6th largest catchment in New South Wales, it is closed to commercial netting meaning the Richmond River has some fantastic fishing spots! Located 200km south of Brisbane and 700km north of Sydney, Ballina is a popular tourist destination. There are some great land based fishing spots along the Richmond River along with some great spots only accessible via boat or kayak.

The Richmond River mouth is also one of the deeper bar crossings on the North Coast, making it easier to access offshore Ballina fishing spots.

Fishing the Richmond River, fish species most caught are:

Bream
Flathead
Luderick
Whiting
Tailor
Mulloway

Fishing the headlands around Ballina, anglers can expect to catch these fish species:

Bream
Luderick
Tailor
Mulloway
Spanish Mackerel
Longtail Tuna
Cobia and
Pan size snapper

Some popular fishing spots at Ballina are the South Wall, Missingham Bridge, River Street Boat Ramp and Missingham Beach just to name a few. We have over 20 fishing spots along the Richmond River with some great insider tips on when, where and how to fish these spots.

Further upstream towards Coraki, Australian Bass are caught throughout the river system. Australian bass are a great fish to target and will often take all sorts of lures, summertime surface lures and winter time hardbody and vibes. They are not a well known fish for their eating value however they are provide great fishing in the Richmond River particularly upstream.

Recommended fishing gear for the Richmond River

A 4-6kg spin outfit with braid and flurocarbon leader will cover most fishing in the Richmond River. Bream are best targeted with a more finesse approach so the lighter the setup the better especially using lures. Bream will take surface lures on top of sea grass beds early mornings, walk the down or small poppers. Small hard body lures work around jetties and any rocky structure.

Fishing with bait in the Richmond River, a running ball sinker with prawn, squid or pilchards is great bait, even chicken gut and strip mullet works.. If lure fishing, small pink soft plastics with jig heads from 1/8 to ¾ ounce will cover most scenarios for flathead.

Mulloway and Tailor will require a slightly heavier setup, but not to heavy. Live bait like whiting and pilchards work well for Mulloway.

Where to go fishing near Richmond River?

Woodburn Bridge
Bream fishing along the park, a good spot to soak local baits and fish with the...
Broadwater Bridge
Great bream fishing along here.
Wardell Bridge
A popular fishing spot near Ballina for Mulloway, live mullet is the best bait, however mulloway...
Moylans Lane
A great land based fishing spot for Bream and Mulloway on live bait. Mulloway will also...
Pimlico Island
The sand flats here are a good place to pump for Yabbies and on the incoming...
Lighthouse Beach
Good winter fishing for Bream and Tailor, find a good gutter on an incoming tide.
Emigrant Creek Jetties
Fish along the creek bank and around the jetty structures for Bream on lures, soft plastics...
Emigrant Creek old Bridge
Old bridge structure holds Bream, Flathead and Mulloway. Mulloway best on live baits however will take...
Emigrant Creek Mouth
Fish the channel markers for Mulloway. Sand flat to the right is a good spot to...
Ballina Canals
Mostly bream around the jetty structures, good spot to cast lures.
Richmond River Jetties
The jetties along here are well worth casting lures at for Bream. Soft plastics cast beside...
Mobbs bay gutters
On the outgoing tide, the draining channels and gutters fish well for flathead on soft plastics.
Mobbs Bay Walls
The gaps in the rock walls are a great place to fish on the outgoing tide...
Mobbs bay anchorage wall
Drift along the rock wall for Bream and Flathead. Around the entrance some big Mulloway are...
Mobbs Bay Yabbies
Good yabbies banks throughout Mobbs Bay, fish the incoming tide for Whiting. Fish the outgoing tide...
North Creek Sand Flats
Good spot to pump yabbies and on high tide fish for Whiting.
Fishery Creek Mouth
Bream and Luderick along the rock wall on an incoming tide. Bream mostly inside the harbour,...
Prospect Bridge
Can park on the south side of the bridge on side road, more for dedicated anglers,...
Faulks Reserve
A nice park and family friendly fishing spot in Ballina. Fish along here with strip mullet,...
Captain Cook Park Boardwalk
Good fishing spot right in Ballina for Bream particularly at night. Drifting soft plastics down the...
Lance Ferris Wharf
Friendly fishing spot in Ballina, mostly bream are caught here. Use bait such as strip mullet...
Regatta Ave Boat Harbour
Good Bream and Flathead fishing off the rock wall, bait works best. Bream around the boats.
North Creek old wharf
Good structure here holds Bream and Luderick. To the south, walk the bank casting metal slugs...
Missingham Bridge
The tide can move fast through here so it is best fished on the smaller tides....
Shaws Bay
Pick a spot along the wall into Shaws Bay, this Ballina fishing spot is best fished...
The Light House
Big sea wall, hard to fish at times has there is strong current and large swells....
South Wall Ballina
At the end of the seawall anglers can target Spanish Mackerel in Summer. Good spot to...