Mastering Flathead Fishing
Targeting A Favorite Estuary Sport Fish
Flathead are a common estuary species, found in waters all around the Australia coastline and often into brackish water far upstream. The dusky Flathead, the most common species, is found more or less in the entirety of the East coast of Australia. They are a fantastic sport fish, easily targeted with particular tackle and are excellent eating.
Many Anglers spend their days fishing, just targeting Flathead for sport. They are most often found on the edges of muddy or sandy banks where shallow waters drop off into a deeper gutter or channel. It’s here they will ambush small or even large baitfish and readily strike a wide variety or lures.
When fishing for Flathead, I fish the hour either side of the bottom of the tide. I regularly hook onto fish in no more than knee-deep water. I look for areas where tidal water is flowing across a shallow section and into deeper water. This is where smaller bait fish and, with any luck, your lure will get washed off the sandbank and convert your efforts into a reward! Look for areas with structure, such as a log, obstruction, or deep drop offs, along with some patchy weed and sandy areas. That’s prime Flatty territory!
Flatheads aren’t particularly fussy about what they eat, either. Many anglers will have their favourite lures in particular colours and shapes, and with new styles always making an appearance, it’s hard to know what to use. I tend to use soft plastics and have six to eight colours and styles in my tackle box that I will mix and match during a fishing session to see what’s working the best on the day. Feed the soft plastic onto the hook so the hook is facing downwards, and just the curve of the hook is protruding from the underside of the ‘Bait’.
Casting and retrieving soft plastics is also quite simple. Cast into shallow water, allow the lure to sink to the bottom, and then retrieve at a slow to medium pace. There are several techniques to give the lure its action in the water, but I prefer a ‘jig, jig, wind up the slack motion’. Then repeat. Always make sure the lure is on the seafloor before repeating. Feel free to mix up your style here. Variety and natural action are key.
Fishing for Flathead is so much fun! From beginners to the weekend fisho, and right up to professional anglers, targeting this species can make for some epic days on the water or from shore. One of the best things I like about this type of fishing is that you don’t need stinky bait, and a very capable Flathead outfit can be bought for a relatively small amount of money and be quickly packed in your boat or car in case a sneaky cast or two might be on the cards!
Happy fishing. G
