Flathead On Soft Plastics - Help Needed!

[VoodooChile78]

I am new to this whole concept of lure fishing...I want to chase flathead...I tell a lie...big flathead! Anyone got any advice as to colors of lures, types? I have a few Kokoda Mad Shads (7cm in orangy-pink and blue silver) and some small squidgies (black gold, silver fox and hot tomato all about 65mm in length) mix of squidgy fish and wriggler. I also have some grubs but they are too small I think, all about 4.5cm.

I intend to hit the river mouth at Nudgee beach across the mud flats and up Noosa..am I going in the right direction? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Sharky]

There greedy fkrs Ive caught them using pieces of plastic bag,

You should bag a few. Just remember the older they get the lazyer they get so look for rock bars where the can sit out of the current and pick things off as they go past.

[kenmare]

Hi Voodoo,

Crazyfisherdood is spot-on: flathead are one of the easiest fish to catch on lures. Size, colour, type -- doesn't seem to matter that much. If it swims nearby, and they're hunting for food, they'll try to eat it.

Far more important IMHO is the state of the tide. I prefer a run out tide.

As I'm sure everybody knows, the flattie is mostly an ambush hunter. It lies camoflaged on the bottom waiting for poddy mullet, small whiting, prawns, nippers etc to move within a range and then, at lightning speed, springs from the bottom to engulf them. It's all over in the blink of an eye.

I use this fact to advantage when targetting flatties. When the run-out tide's high, I fish from my boat around the mangrove roots, weed beds and shallow yabbie flats, where the flatties will be hunting. As the tide falls, I concentrate on the run-off channels and holes, figuring the flatties will then be there, waiting for small fish, prawns etc, as they're forced off the flats by the falling tide.

Like most predatory fish, flatties hunt most actively at first and last light. So if you plan your outings to co-incide with a run-out tide at early morning or late afternoon into evening you'll probably get a few. Last half of the run-out is probably best if you're land based.

There's nothing wrong with being a "tackle rat" -- most of us are to some degree -- but you'll catch more fish if you understand how fish behave.

Regards,

Bob

Edited February 25, 2006 by kenmare

[Burnsy]

Big Flatties tend to favour bigger plastics, 4inch power minows are excellent. Change your colour to the conditions, Dirty Water = Hot pinks. Clear Water = Blue/Silver/Clear tails.

The most important part is fishing moving water. The age old rule is "No flow no go". So fish the run out or run in tides. Flatties like structure like most fish, you will often find them sitting on the edge of weed patches or between oyster leases when the water is running through them. Another good place to find them is right on the edge of rock walls at the end of beaches. If you are fishing water were you know they should be and you are not getting any hits, change lure colours and styles and work the area over again.

Look for baitfish, if you can find some areas where there are heaps of poddy mullet in the shallows that have to move into the deep water nearby when the tide drops, the flathead will not be far away.

If the tide is running in, you will often find them sitting up on the edge of the sandbanks or mud flats waiting for the bait fish.

Early morning is preferable before boats, and people make to much disturbance in the area.

Don't forget to let the big ones go... they are the breeding females that ensure a fishery for all in the future.

Burnsy

[Grantm]

Some good tips there and ill also add some others.

My fav colours are pumkinseed and green. They are are my go to colours when things are tough. There is one very important lure missing from you collection there too. Gulps. Do not go Flathead fishing without Gulps. I have caught numerous big flatties on them when all else is failing and highly recommend them.

A lot of people seem to think flathead will take anything and this is true to some extent, but i have experimented with this a lot and have flogged to death the same piece of water with all manner of lures for nothing and brought out a pseed Gulp for instant success.

Catching LARGE flaties is another ball game. These big mammas are not everywhere. It is been written by experts that up 50 small ( up to 60 cm ) will school around one large female,now if this is true that means there arent too many around so catching them aint easy !

My opinion is that large flatties are a little more cunning than their smaller counterparts. Ive caught bigguns in strong current and also absolutley no current, deep and shallow too.

My opinion is they are a little more adventurous than thier little mates and venture out chasing baitfish. Most of the bigguns ive caught have come from some kind of structure, boat moorings are a great start if you are in areas of no current.

If you are fishing areas of great tidal influence look for the downcurrent side of points and protruding structure if you can find them and bring the lure with the current not agianst it.

If one colour id not working keep changing until you find the one. Greens, pinks, and white are popular as is my fav pseed.

Good luck

[VoodooChile78]

Thanks! Time in preparation is seldom wasted!! Didn’t get a line in today but went down at low tide and “walked” the area. Lots of flats and channels…I found more than a few coffin-shaped marks which I have been told are left by flatty as they semi-hide themselves. (see the pic)

All the signs are there that they are there…now it’s just a matter of having a good crack at them in the morning as the tide runs out.

I want the Berkley Gulp Minnow Grubs (pumpkin seed) but the wife (financial advisor* and fishing partner) wants us to catch something on SP’s before spending any more.

I will let you know how it went…thanks again for the advice.

* Otherwise I would have a garage full of fishing gear and nothing else! One of us has to be the sane one!

[Matthead]

Good advice by everyone, and good to see people willing to share their info!!! I'm not sure you can specifically target the big girls unless you have a good knowlege of the area itself. As far as lures go it's what works for you that is important .... if you feel more confident with one brand or type of lure then use it... if it doesn't work, then try something else!! I would say location is far more important than the type of lure you are using. I've found I'll catch bigger Flathead from a boat because I can access the areas I feel hold bigger Flathead like Rock formations sticking out of the water, which I generally fish the Run In tide untill the Action slows down. It is a case of trial and error as I have found you must put in the time and learn from your fishless days and the ones when you catch the biggies...... persistence is the key factor!!!!!