Australia is house to a number of the finest sportfishing on the planet, with Barramundi, monster Sharks, and the world’s largest Marlin on the playing cards. However Aussies will inform you that none one in all these are the most well-liked sport fish of their nation. No, it’s a fish far tastier than these, which is really easy to catch that anybody can do it. We’re speaking in regards to the humble Flathead. Don’t imagine us? Effectively, then, it’s important to attempt Flathead fishing for your self!
The best way to Establish Flathead
The Flathead fish household (Platycephalidae) contains a wide range of species present in tropical areas of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Essentially the most notable place to catch them is Australia, which is house to greater than 50 sorts. Of those, the commonest are Dusky, Tiger, and Blue-spotted Flathead.
Flathead earned their identify as a consequence of their compressed our bodies, which makes it attainable for them to cruise shallow water. Locals seek advice from them by plenty of nicknames, together with “Flatties,” “Frogs,” and “Lizards.”
Many species are some shade of brown or grey with the intention to camouflage themselves in opposition to the seafloor, the place they wait to ambush their prey. Their forward-facing eyes and enormous mouths lined with tiny, sharp enamel give Flathead the sting they should make fast strikes earlier than they resettle within the mud or sand to digest.
As the most important species, Dusky Flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) are the primary goal for many anglers. They often attain someplace between 500 grams and 4 kilos in measurement (1–10 kilos), however can develop as massive as 15 kilograms (33 kilos). Other than their measurement, you possibly can distinguish them from different species based mostly on the massive, black spot they’ve on their tail fins.
Duskies inhabit the east coast of Australia, from Cairns to the Gippsland Lakes area in Victoria. You’ll discover them in bays, estuaries, estuarine lakes, coastal flats, and alongside seashores. Further Flathead species stay in related areas round different components of the nation, and you may catch them utilizing the identical methods.
Finest Flathead Fishing Spots
Whether or not you’re a vacationer from afar or an Aussie who’s lastly obtained sensible to one of the best sport fish down below, relaxation assured there are many locations to catch one…
Cairns
With Cairns laying declare to so many massive sport fish, Flathead aren’t the most well-liked goal round. However make no mistake – fishing for them right here continues to be good sport. Native river mouths and estuaries are house to each Dusky and Tiger Flathead. A few prime fishing spots for them simply past Cairns are Yorkeys Knob to the north and Mourilyan Harbour, a two-hour drive south.
The most effective time to fish for Flathead in Queensland is in the course of the cooler months between Might and September. The possession restrict for Dusky Flathead is 5 fish, with a minimal size of 40 centimeters and a most of 75. There’s a mixed restrict of 5 for all different Flathead species, which needs to be at the least 30 centimeters lengthy.
Brisbane
To the far south of Queensland, Flathead could be discovered within the rivers and creeks round Brisbane. They’re particularly quite a few throughout winter and can fill each accessible water system by July.
Strive your luck fishing the mouth of the Brisbane River in addition to the Pine River. Shore-based anglers ought to try Shorncliffe Pier, Nudgee Seashore, and different seashores up the coast towards Caloundra. Your possibilities of catching Flathead are good at any time of day, however we suggest fishing for them in the course of the first two hours of run-in tide or the final two hours of run-out.
Sydney
City fishing for Flathead could be each bit nearly as good as casting for them within the wilderness. This makes Sydney Harbour a prime location – however you could have to hunt for a superb fishing spot that different anglers haven’t already crowded! Flathead can be found year-round right here, with peak seasons in April and Might in addition to September and October.
About 45 minutes south, you’ve got Botany Bay, one other go-to Flathead fishing vacation spot. And simply round Cape Solander lies Cronulla, a suburb completely located the place Port Hacking meets the Pacific.
New South Wales not too long ago modified the measurement and possession limits for Dusky Flathead. Anglers can now hold Duskies between 36–70 centimeters, with a day by day bag restrict of 5 fish. In the meantime, there’s an combination bag restrict of 10 fish for Tiger and Blue-spotted Flathead, which should be at the least 33 centimeters.
Gippsland Lakes
On the southernmost level of the Dusky’s vary, you’ve got top-of-the-line fisheries for them: the Gippsland Lakes. You’ll discover them right here year-round, however the hotter months are particularly productive when the native Flathead have tons of prawns to feed on.
Close by, you may as well drift down the Tambo, Nicholson, and Mitchell Rivers. The Mitchell River Silt Jetties lengthen 8 kilometers into Lake King, making them an awesome place to forged from shore.
There’s a bag restrict of 5 Dusky, which should be between 30–55 centimeters in Victoria. The minimal measurement for different species is 27 centimeters, and you may hold a mixed complete of 20 Flathead, excluding Dusky.
Port Phillip Bay
Simply past the vary of Dusky Flathead, Port Phillip Bay affords nice fishing for a number of different Flathead species. For those who desire to forged from shore, some prime spots across the bay embrace the St. Kilda, Kerferd Street, and Station Piers.
Species resembling Sand and Blue-spotted Flathead could be discovered near shore a lot of the yr and are typically most lively throughout summer season and autumn. Tiger Flathead are extra generally caught offshore within the Bass Strait, the place anglers fish for them between November and March.
The best way to Go Fishing for Flathead
You would possibly assume Flathead are lazy as a consequence of their tendency to cozy up within the mud or sand. However the actuality is that they’re predators! They merely lay low whereas ready for the right alternative to strike. Deal with Flathead just like the hunters they’re, and also you’ll have extra success catching them.
This implies shifting your bait or lure to imitate prey. Dwell bait is the best to fish with as a consequence of its pure scent and movement. However many anglers take into account lure fishing extra enjoyable as a result of you’ve got the duty of creating these plastics transfer in a approach that appears convincing!
Earlier than casting a line, make sure you scout out the suitable space. A bit of canopy or construction resembling weeds, rocks, and fallen logs appeal to bait fish that Flathead feed on. Additionally they wait for his or her prey close to shallow drop-offs and small river mouths. Discover a spot like this, notably one with sand patches, the place a Flathead will bury itself in wait.
Be conscious of the present, as nicely. Predatory fish face the present head-on in order that it could sweep their subsequent meal their approach. With this in thoughts, forged upcurrent and let your bait make its approach towards the Flathead.
Keep in mind that Flathead are fast to resettle on the underside after gulping down their meal. For those who really feel a chew adopted by lifeless weight, don’t assume you misplaced your bait – a Flathead might have swallowed it, together with your hook set securely in its mouth. If that is so, gently pull within the slack or carry your rod to convey your catch to the floor.
Lastly, be ready to deal with these fish safely. Flathead have sharp enamel in addition to spines on the again of their gill rakers. The smaller the fish, the sharper these spines! Carry a touchdown internet and a few thick gloves, and purpose to carry your catch alongside the underside.
With these starter suggestions in your arsenal, it’s time to dive into the commonest ways in which anglers go fishing for Flathead:
Bait Fishing
Dwell bait will do loads of the be just right for you, so you possibly can hold issues fairly easy by drifting over the suitable areas or backside fishing. If utilizing lifeless bait, give it slightly movement. This doesn’t require full-on jigging such as you would with a lure, however you must drag your bait alongside the underside and pause now and again with the intention to coax any Flathead out of their hiding.
Casting Lures
Casting lures forces you to get slightly extra artistic, however that is what makes it a lot enjoyable. You’ll be able to attempt it from shore or from a ship, and you may attempt switching up your motion, from letting the lure lie nonetheless and infrequently twitching it to lifting the rod slightly extra shortly and sharper – the latter works wonders when the fish are lively!
As soon as your lure hits the water, hold it near the underside. Because it gained’t transfer a lot by itself, give it slightly little bit of “hopping” (jigging) motion. Permit the lure to sink all the way in which to the underside earlier than lifting your rod once more.
Trolling
Trolling is an effective way to uncover Flathead after they’re scattered removed from one another exterior of the spawning season. It goes with out saying that this methodology requires a ship, however you must plan on staying near shore. Scout out an space the place you’ve got at the least 100 meters to troll throughout, resembling a shallow flat or sandy financial institution. Trolling for Flathead works finest in water that’s 10 ft deep or much less – at the same time as shallow as 3–5 ft.
As a substitute of a quick troll, purpose for a brisk strolling tempo – round 2 or 3 km/h (1–2 mph). Pull your lures about 15–20 meters behind the boat to ensure they attain the underside. On this case, you don’t need to drag your lures on the underside. As a substitute, they need to bounce alongside with the intention to kick up the sand and draw consideration from any Flathead hiding there.
Fly Fishing
We will’t speak about fishing with lures with out mentioning that it’s additionally nice enjoyable to catch Flathead on the fly. That is carried out just about solely on the flats, the place you possibly can scout out a major fishing spot at low tide and begin casting because the water rises. Giant Flathead will transfer into the shallows, particularly at low gentle, and also you would possibly catch one in as little as half a meter of water (lower than 2 ft)!
Whereas tender plastics are perfect for casting, you must use hardbody lures for trolling. Make sure to have a spread of colours available, together with pink, orange, and inexperienced, in addition to numerous shades of brown or grey that resemble shrimp, crab, and bait fish.
Flathead Fishing Gear
For bait fishing, a lightweight 2–2.5 m rod will swimsuit you high-quality (that’s about 6.5–8 ft for American anglers), paired with a 1000–2500 sequence reel. As we talked about, Flathead have sharp enamel, so make sure you spool your reel with 15 lb nylon or braided line. You’ll additionally need to have a fluorocarbon chief that’s 2–3 kilos (4.5–6.5 kilos) heavier than your major line.
Rigging doesn’t have to be difficult, simply use a typical working sinker rig with a swivel. For average-sized fish, 1/0 hooks are adequate, whereas circle hooks in sizes 3/0–4/0 will maintain bigger baits to focus on greater fish.
Land-based anglers can get by with gentle spinning gear. Use a 6–10 lb braided or nylon line and a heavier fluoro chief as talked about earlier than, someplace within the 8–15 lb vary. This additionally goes for trolling.
For fly fishing, you should use a 9′ 6–8 wt rod paired with a small, gentle reel and a few floating line. Though these fish sit on the underside, you’ll be casting in such shallow water that your fly goes to land within the strike zone no matter sinking or floating line.
Flathead Fishing Bait & Lures
Flathead are simple to catch due to their ravenous urge for food and undiscerning palate. This implies you possibly can catch them utilizing a wide range of baits and lures.
The most typical – and arguably one of the best – baits for Flathead fishing are:
- Small mullets
- Pilchards
- Whitebait
- Squid
- Prawns
- Mussels
- Yabbies (crayfish)
Keep in mind that stay bait works finest and also you need it to be as recent as attainable. Nonetheless, you possibly can fish with many of those baits frozen, as nicely.
With regards to artificials, Flathead will chew tender plastics in addition to hard-body lures like crankbaits and jerkbaits. You’ll be able to forged and retrieve both of those, whereas anglers typically give attention to trolling with laborious our bodies.
Each time the fish aren’t biting, add some scent to your lures with the intention to whet their urge for food. Some anglers additionally swear by trolling with vibrating lures, since these draw extra consideration.
For skilled fly anglers, clouser minnows with bead-chain or weighted eyes can be your weapons of alternative. Prawn imitations needs to be a white-and-brown combo, whereas strong white with a little bit of sparkle resembles bait fish. For yabbies, attempt white over yellow over pink.
When to Fish for Flathead
You’ll be able to fish for Flathead in lots of locations year-round, however the peak season varies relying on the place they’re. To the north in Queensland, Flathead spawn in the course of the cooler months (June–August) and can be extra lively presently. To the south in Victoria, the identical is true for hotter months (December–February). In the meantime, New South Wales falls proper down the center, with peak seasons in autumn (April–Might) and spring (September–October).
Some anglers say that daybreak and nightfall are one of the best instances to fish for Flathead. Others declare that the time of day is much less necessary than fishing on the run-out of a excessive tide, particularly over the past two hours. The primary two hours of a run-in tide can be good.
One more principle is that Flathead fishing is finest three days earlier than and after a full moon. In fact, it’s as much as you to forged a line in any respect these instances and determine for your self!
Flathead: A Nationwide Favourite
Flathead might not be the game fish that brings you to Australia, however in the event you spend sufficient time casting your line round right here, chances are high you’ll catch one. And when you do, you’ll be again for extra. With so some ways to fish for them, you possibly can spend a lifetime uncovering new methods, and there’ll all the time be a candy reward in your effort. Belief us, a day of fishing for Flatties by no means falls flat!
Are you a Flathead lovers? Any suggestions for visiting anglers? We’d love to listen to from you within the feedback under!
