Flathead Identification Please

[sammys]

Caught and released this little felluh down the Pumicestone Passage last Friday on a Soft Plastic, can anyone tell me what breed of a Flathead he is?

[FNQCairns]

Rock Flathead possibly, the tail is often very important in identifying Flathead.

We used to catch them every now and then around SEQ.

cheers fnq

[darbwah]

maybe a marbled flathead??

[bowds13]

hey mate my first guess id say it would be a tiger flatehad or a marble we get them quite big on the close reefs off sunsine coast.

cheers

[Creek Vermin]

Looks like a fringe eye mate. Get the odd one in the passage especially around rocks. Don't grow too big though. Very thick through the body for their length compared to duskies.
Cheers. Keith

[Outsider1]

The skin colour patterns do suggest it is a Marbled Flathead, but as FNQCairns said a picture of the tail, and in particular the colours in the tail wrist would help.

A Rock Flathead and a Marbled Bellied Flathead are the same species according to Fishbase, Platycephalus laevigatus. A Marbled Flathead is a very similar looking but different species, Platycephalus marmoratus.

There is also 3 different species that are called by the common or market name of Tiger Flathead, so lots of room for confusion! I have seen Duskies with those sorts of patterns as well, but the head shape does not look like a Dusky and the colour looks a bit too dark overall.

[Outsider1]

Looks like a fringe eye mate. Get the odd one in the passage especially around rocks. Don't grow too big though. Very thick through the body for their length compared to duskies.
Cheers. Keith

Keith seems to have it.

I have not seen one before but your pics do look pretty much like this one off Fishbase for a Fringe-Eyed Flathead, Cymbacephalus nematophthalmus;

[Lizard Man]

Great fish Sammy. Always nice to see some of the less common Flatties caught Do you mind telling us what plastic you were using?

And Keith is spot on with his ID. It is definately a Fringe-Eyed Flathead. Colouration is spot on. Note the darker brown band around the eyes, the lighter band at the rear of the head, and the darker band at rear of the first dorsal fin.

Cheers.

[slyman]

Definately a Fringe eyed flathead, grows to 15 inches max (380mm), and are well worth preparing for the table according to Grants. Not a regulated fish, therefore no size or bag limit.

[FNQCairns]

Ahemm! (however you spell clearing ones throat) can anyone tell me what the common name is for a fringe eyed lizard

cheers fnq

[slyman]

Ahemm! (however you spell clearing ones throat) can anyone tell me what the common name is for a fringe eyed lizard

cheers fnq

hmm... thinking of possible double entendres, but will refrain from mentioning them here as this is a family orientated website

[sleepygreg]

I always heard fringe eyed flathead referred to as Mud Flathead....it could have been one of those local names though....it definitely looks like a fringe eye to me. (I have also heard duskies referred to as mud flathead) - I think it depends on where you are.

Greg

[Jeremy]

Definately a Fringe eyed flathead.....Not a regulated fish, therefore no size or bag limit.

Not quite true. all other flathead 30 cm min, no max in Qld. Not sure about bag limit.

Jeremy

[slyman]

Not quite true. all other flathead 30 cm min, no max in Qld. Not sure about bag limit.

Jeremy

Hmm... you could be right there Jeremy. I always thought that when they said all other flathead, I took that to mean all other REGULATED flathead like the bartailed and sand flatheads.

Reading the new Rec fishing guidelines booklet it does say:

ALL FLATHEAD (EXCEPT DUSKY FLATHEAD) 30 MIN, AND A COMBINED LIMIT OF 5 IN TOTAL OF ALL SPECIES (EXCEPT DUSKY FLATHEAD).

I think I might give the Fisheries a call on this and I'll post my findings back here.

[sammys]

Thanks all, caught on a Maple Softie rack Glider in Silver Shiner Colour, jig Head was 1/8oz Hook size 2.