sydney south Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 A couple of Mates and I decided to have a bash off Garrie Beach Sunday morning. Spikies everywhere and only one good Keeper at around 42cm. Tried everywhere from 20 metres out to 50 metres with no luck. Was not the best of conditions. I think there must have been a strong current, as every time we stopped the boat would go sideways to the southerly swell making it a bit uncomfortable. This was after turning the rudders and dragging a sea anchor. Hope for better luck next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I was down there 2 weeks ago, managed a feed, They can be very fussy if the drift is not just right, Once you find a couple, continually fish that depth. Every day can be different. I was harassed by green toads All day. Better luck next time Grandad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 I was down there 2 weeks ago, managed a feed, They can be very fussy if the drift is not just right, Once you find a couple, continually fish that depth. Every day can be different. I was harassed by green toads All day. Better luck next time Grandad Yes the green toads got us as well. Sometimes we caught two at a time and others followed them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Green toads are fast swimmers for toads, fast enough to catch a lure. Some years ago they turned up off Lilli Pilli. Can ruin the fishing in a short time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingFishing Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 By spikies do u mean flathead! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Spikies = Small undersize flathead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingFishing Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 What were u fellas using as bait ? I have found that upsizing your bait helps a little with getting rid of the smaller "spikies". I use medium to large size prawns and half pillies. Still get the small ones occasionally tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harold Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Small underside flathead= a great catch in Pittwater over the past month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 By spikies do u mean flathead! ? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 What were u fellas using as bait ? I have found that upsizing your bait helps a little with getting rid of the smaller "spikies". I use medium to large size prawns and half pillies. Still get the small ones occasionally tho Yep tried that as well. Even used large slices of the spikies as bait, along with large Hawkesbury prawns and squid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingFishing Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Pretty sure it's prohibited to keep undersize flathead and use them as bait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsy91 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Pretty sure it's prohibited to keep undersize flathead and use them as bait.Not to mention stupid...they're a bottom feeding predator that rarely leaves it's camouflage dug out. Literally never heard of someone using flathead for bait...probably coz they don't take undersized fish...not happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisho.sid Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 what are toads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 what are toads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) Pretty sure it's prohibited to keep undersize flathead and use them as bait. Thanks GoingFishing, Yes checked up with fisheries and you are correct. I am so careful with regard to sizes and bag limits. Very embarrassing. Lesson learned and will never do again. Edited February 24, 2016 by sydney south Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 Not to mention stupid...they're a bottom feeding predator that rarely leaves it's camouflage dug out. Literally never heard of someone using flathead for bait...probably coz they don't take undersized fish...not happy. Adsy91, Please see my quote to GoingFishing post. First, I do not consider that I am stupid, just something that never occurred to me. I must admit, that I have also had a traffic infringement or two in my day, but am generally a good road user. Sorry for upsetting you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsy91 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Adsy91, Please see my quote to GoingFishing post. First, I do not consider that I am stupid, just something that never occurred to me. I must admit, that I have also had a traffic infringement or two in my day, but am generally a good road user. Sorry for upsetting you. All good mate to be completely honest I'm not a morning person and apologise for insulting you. I had a job interview this morning and although that's no excuse for rudeness I'm extremely passionate about conservation so possibly a little over sensitive at times when it comes to fish. With all the research we do sometimes it's hard to remember the learning curve. That said though, please do not keep undersized fish. Thanks for your reply as well I appreciate it and again sorry for being a morning grouch! [emoji5] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 All good mate to be completely honest I'm not a morning person and apologise for insulting you. I had a job interview this morning and although that's no excuse for rudeness I'm extremely passionate about conservation so possibly a little over sensitive at times when it comes to fish. With all the research we do sometimes it's hard to remember the learning curve. That said though, please do not keep undersized fish. Thanks for your reply as well I appreciate it and again sorry for being a morning grouch! [emoji5] Enough said :-) You may want to discuss and not lecture................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welster Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 As far as I am aware "spikey flathead" are a different species with no size limit and are fine to use as bait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 As far as I am aware "spikey flathead" are a different species with no size limit and are fine to use as bait.Interesting I will being ringing fisheries tomorrow and get their view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoingFishing Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Interesting- when this topic started my initial question was- what are "spikies" the response was small flathead. I was unaware that spikey flathead are also a separate species. Doing a quick search online and it appears "spikey flathead" are also known as tiger flathead, which do have a size limit of 33cm. Best be getting some sort of advice from fisheries to put the query to bed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 The spikey flathead are a species called Long Spined Flathead, grow to not much over 30 cm, no legal size limit, and are as common as dog sh*t on a footpath. I keep a couple for bait, the fillets make good bait for Blue Spot Flatties and Tiger Flatties (and anything else swimming about) A word of warning - they have very long spikes on the sides of their heads, hence being called spikies, (and these spikes do draw blood if they stab your fingers) and the dorsal fins have a bit of poison on their tips, which can numb your fingers for half an hour or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) The spikey flathead are a species called Long Spined Flathead, grow to not much over 30 cm, no legal size limit, and are as common as dog sh*t on a footpath. I keep a couple for bait, the fillets make good bait for Blue Spot Flatties and Tiger Flatties (and anything else swimming about) A word of warning - they have very long spikes on the sides of their heads, hence being called spikies, (and these spikes do draw blood if they stab your fingers) and the dorsal fins have a bit of poison on their tips, which can numb your fingers for half an hour or so. Yes when they spike you you can not stop the bleeding.I dry the finger/area and apply a peroxide strip that i get from my barber. Stops the bleeding in an instant. Edited February 24, 2016 by sydney south Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luderick59 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Yes when they spike you you can not stop the bleeding. I dry the finger/area and apply a peroxide strip that i get from my barber. Stops the bleeding in an instant. look for a new barber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sydney south Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 Follow Up, Fisheries have advised "spikies are undersized flathead and can not be used for bait". Learn something every day. Change of practice for this little black duck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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