Flathead Markings

[CarlRak]

Raiders,

Picked up a few flatties on Saturday but noticed that 3 of the 4 had quite dark markings. I was fishing a spot where the fish I usually get are light-ish (like the one on the right in the pic).

Just curious as to people’s opinions as to why the other 3 were so dark? I thought maybe they might usually live further up the system but have migrated downstream because of the rain?

Sorry about the quality of the pic.

Cheers

Carl

[GregL]

IMO it's usually what sort of bottom the fish has been living in. Mud bottoms produce darker fish and sandy bottoms produce lighter fish. I have caught light colored ones in deep water so I don't think it's depth related.

G

[CarlRak]

Thanks Greg, makes sense.

Was curious because I was getting dark fish on a sandy bottom.

[rockfisherman]

Thanks Greg, makes sense.

Was curious because I was getting dark fish on a sandy bottom.

nibbles

They might have been sitting on a small patch of weed, who knows....

What I do know is a light brown flathead that I placed in a white bucket with water seemed a lot lighter than what it originally was when I caught it, I'm not sure if it was just my eyes or it actually adjusted its colour to suit the surroundings, even then I always thought that happened over a period of time....

Fishingphase

[tasksta]

Tasty feed there, we may have to compare notes!