Targeting flathead on soft plastics is one of my favourite pastimes - they’re a great fish. I love their surprise attack in shallow water when you least expect it, and the fact you can generally find a fish or two with consistency. When time is limited, having that go-to species which offers a high likelihood of success is important.
And I think that’s why flathead are so popular here in Australia, they offer an accessible, reliable and exciting target for fisho’s of all ability. You don’t need to cover huge distances to find flathead, with some great fishing available right on the doorstep of urbanized areas. And in some locations you won’t even need a boat.
Dusky flathead have a huge following on the east coast, but there are plenty of other flathead species available right around the country for recreational anglers. If you have access to the coast, then you’ll likely have a species or two of flathead in your local area.
Although individual species vary in size, colouration and environment, they all share common traits with each other. All flathead share a similar body structure with long tapering bodies and flattened heads, with both eye set to focus upwards to assist with ambush feeding. There are slight variations in body structure, but they are fundamentally comparable. Below we’ll take a look at the various species of flathead targeted by recreational fisho’s around our country.
DUSKY FLATHEAD
Also referred to
