Flathead Advice

[scroman]

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all - hope it was safe and smelt like seafood
Spent a fair bit of time on the water lately and without skiting - have certainly refined my rubber skills on the flathead - can boast a 11.5cm lizard on a 6cm squidgie - my father always said it takes skill to target something that small and successfully catch it on lure
Anyway - the tally over Christmas has been 98 flathead. 94 of them have been under 45cm The other 4 were under 59cm
When i look at what i am doing i can see why this is the case (small lures, shallow water, 1.8kg line etc etc)
To further advance my catch and release record i was hoping for some hints on looking confidently at the 70 - 85cm range. I think i get put off a bit by the lack of personal confidence because those that successfully target these beautiful ladies are more experienced and knowledgable than myself. I keep saying we will give it a shot but don't persist and go back to the trusted - safety zone - instead of persevereing
I fish with my cousin (he has the boat ) We don't have a sounder but do know the tweed reasonably well.
Could anyone offer some very specific tactics for us to give it a shot from lure selection to tackle - am prepared to spend the grocery money - don't tell my wife that tho
Any hints would be greatly appreciated - once again hope you all had a very festive season and santa was good to you

[jeffo]

lol. first off i think fishing in salt water will help you flathead catches (in regards to where this thread is posted) PM tim, aka zeeke. he will give you all the good oil on where to get ya fish and on what. i cant speak from experience with lures but most of the big lizards i have caught on live baits have been in the deeper water and usually round alot of structure (have caught quite a few fishing for jacks). the most XOS flathead i have ever seen around here while snorkeling was at around the rockwalls at mooloolaba yet they are rarely caught there! that probably didnt answer your questions but maybe you should be trying around the rock walls at the tweed or in the broadwater and sea way?

[TimNQ]

Yea ive seen a flatty pulled in on point cartwright side which was just under a metre i think. Ive caught them up to 80 cm in the rivers but only in a drag net

[Bad_Bubby]

there have been plenty of big mummas caught in the seaway both on bait and lures. It is far easier to target them from a boat, peak months are October/November. If you get one over 80cm resist the temptation to keep it.

[agnes_jack]

No wonder they call you bad bubby.
You are not allowed to keep flathead over 70cm.

[agnes_jack]

Deep holes, Large lures or 6to8 inch mullet (dont be shy)
Runout tide.

Tony

[Bad_Bubby]

Agnes: I've lived up to my name a couple of times in the past by killin' female lizards...not proud of it either!. Then again I've seen dozens of dead fish in your arms buddy . Also thats a pretty new max size I doubt your average weekend angler knows about it, just thought it was worth a mention

[beefaman]

The minimum/maximum for flatties is now 40 -> 70cm. Anything under 40 or over 70 has to go back

[agnes_jack]

Bad bubby
That was not meant to offend you, I was merely pointing out what I thought was a simple mistake in your typing. That is not a new size limit it has been in place since early last year( not quite sure of the date). I do not deny killing fish as I very much enjoy a feed of fish and do not bag others for doing so. If the only reason I was fishing was to "bother them" I would find another hobbie. I do however believe very strongly in adhering to the legal size limits and set many higher than legal size limits on my own fishing. I release more fish by far than I keep. As I said that comment was in jest only and if you are unaware of the size and bag limits then perhaps you should find out!

Regards Tony

[Brissyguy]

Large Prawstar in "glow" colour assasinated quite a few flathead in the Passage (Pumicestone) over the Xmas break.Incidently they are superb fresh on the barbie

Gotta do something to knobble the wife, she keeps out fishing me and I am soooooooo sick of washing her car.

Brissy.

[Gorilla_in_Manila]

Brissy,
Spray her lures with RID when she isn't looking.
Cheers,
Jeff

[agnes_jack]

Jeff
That will do it no worries mate.
Brissy, have you tried the new purple color prawnstar?
Been getting some very good feedback on those in dirtier water and in dark conditions such as early evening.
Tony

[beefaman]

The "purple haze" color is fantastic. I have nailed quite a few flatties on the prawnstar junior.

[Brissyguy]

Havent tried the other colours as I had 100 of the "Glow in the dark" grren colour made as promo gear for my company before Xmas.
I was ummmm QA testing them over the break lol.

Jeff and Tony thanks for the tips, I guess that is easier than breaking her casting wrist lmfao.

Cheers guys,
Rich.

[Bad_Bubby]

Agnes_Jack: Hmm...don't know why you think I was offended ???. As it happens I didn't know about the max size because I don't target flathead up here in North Queensland (they are just by-catch up here), although I suppose you would know that