Dusky Flathead

Size 500g - 4kg. can reach up to 15kg
Legal Length 36cm Bag Limit 10


Where
Dusky flathead are found in the eastern states of Australia. They are predominantly a tidal estuary fish. They congregate near drop offs, channels and amongst weed beds or areas of mixed sand and weed patches.
Qualities Good sport on light tackle.

Bait
Yabbies (nippers), Blue bait, Bonito, Fish flesh, Garfish, Herring, Live minnow, Octopus, Pilchard, Poddy mullet, Prawn, Squid, Tailor, White bait

Lures
Beach, spinning with spoons, metal baitfish. Estuary, soft plastic type lures, diving minnows and lead headed jigs.

Tackle
Link: 3 - 5kg main line with a 1m monofilament leader three times the thickness of the main line as shock absorber.
Hook: No. 1 - 4/0 Mustad
Rig: Snapper rig with two droppers or running sinker rig. The sinker should be heavy enough to keep the bait on the bottom. Lure rig.


Hints
Dusky Flathead are an estuarine species best caught at dawn and dusk with a dead low tide at right on dark the best. They migrate down to near the mouths of estuaries and along gutters of adjacent beaches during Dec - April. Other times they are found further up the estuary around shallow sandbanks, near weed beds in channels and lakes and around bait fish grounds. Keep bait moving by casting and retrieving or the drifting boat method works well. Slow retrieval works best. Fish the down current side of the shallow sandbank were the fish are lying in wait for food. Rubber tail jigs should be worked along the bottom in stop start fashion by hopping the jig across the bottom. Take your time when landing this fish as they often make a last minute surge for freedom.