Can't jig a flathead for my life

[faker]

So I heard news of mack tuna and sambos around in Sydney harbour, I bought out my shorejigging gear to see if I can find one.

Grinded for 2 hours from 6:30 but couldn't find any at Clifton garden rocks. So I switched to bottom bashing for flathead and landed a 45cm grinner which beated my previous record of 30.

I am kinda of counting it as donut session and really want to land flathead, sambo,king by jigging.

 

 

[Little_Flatty]

Not a donut. Better than sitting on the couch.

Did you have a decent picture of the grinner on a measure? I think it would be a good candidate for a record if you did.

[faker]

10 hours ago, Little_Flatty said:

Not a donut. Better than sitting on the couch.

Did you have a decent picture of the grinner on a measure? I think it would be a good candidate for a record if you did.

I really need a brag mat 😆 tape measures just ain't cutting it but I wanted to travel light weight. But it really was 3 weeks since I had a session due to going through some personal hardship. Found it immensely relieving and therapeutic.

Edited May 17 by faker

[lhan]

Try berry island reserve - plenty of easy reach sandy bottom. I had some good flatties there, 10-20g jigs will do you well

[XD351]

Fish the jig as you would a plastic for flathead , I have got a few out on flint and steel on a hyper kraken / mini bites jig doing this -really just hopping it across the bottom. 
From what I was told by Mike in my last post berry island is pretty gnarly ground . Try Valencia st wharf , it is all sand out there and I have either seen someone else or caught myself some decent flathead of there . Also longnose point at birch grove , it produces all sorts of things at various times .

[lhan]

another note - if you're using typical rock shore jigging rod ~10ft-ish and jigs >= 20g, add a single assist/inline hook to the end of your jig will help with catch rate on flat fish in the harbour. They are not that fast/strong sucking fish compared to blue runners. I find that they usually hooked to the end hook in the harbour while in upper Parramatta river I had not much issue when using micro jigs with only assist hooks in the front (7g small jigs so easy to gulp)

just needs to be a bit careful with the bottom but it's still 100x better than trebles 

Edited May 19 by lhan

[faker]

55 minutes ago, lhan said:

another note - if you're using typical rock shore jigging rod ~10ft-ish and jigs >= 20g, add a single assist/inline hook to the end of your jig will help with catch rate on flat fish in the harbour. They are not that fast/strong sucking fish compared to blue runners. I find that they usually hooked to the end hook in the harbour while in upper Parramatta river I had not much issue when using micro jigs with only assist hooks in the front (7g small jigs so easy to gulp)

just needs to be a bit careful with the bottom but it's still 100x better than trebles 

My rod cast up to 48 g jigs

Should I use lighter jigs ie 20g?

[faker]

17 hours ago, XD351 said:

Fish the jig as you would a plastic for flathead , I have got a few out on flint and steel on a hyper kraken / mini bites jig doing this -really just hopping it across the bottom. 
From what I was told by Mike in my last post berry island is pretty gnarly ground . Try Valencia st wharf , it is all sand out there and I have either seen someone else or caught myself some decent flathead of there . Also longnose point at birch grove , it produces all sorts of things at various times .

Thanks 

[lhan]

10 hours ago, faker said:

My rod cast up to 48 g jigs

Should I use lighter jigs ie 20g?

depends on the depth and mostly just personal preference. In the harbour I seldom use >20g other than blues point. For gore cove (berry island reserve) I use 10-20g in general because I feels good it could cover water column and reach the bottom in a good pace. Flathead isn't particularly picky, I've got 35 ones on 40g and 50+ ones on 7g. It's more about finding them and present your lure. And personally I love to go to the lightest end as long as the jig could sink reasonably fast to cover all water column.

And don't be afraid of downsize your lure, big fish eat small baits a lot more than I thought! A max 48g rod should cover like 15-20g as the lower range while still maintaining optimal distance so give it a try

Edited May 19 by lhan

[faker]

16 hours ago, lhan said:

depends on the depth and mostly just personal preference. In the harbour I seldom use >20g other than blues point. For gore cove (berry island reserve) I use 10-20g in general because I feels good it could cover water column and reach the bottom in a good pace. Flathead isn't particularly picky, I've got 35 ones on 40g and 50+ ones on 7g. It's more about finding them and present your lure. And personally I love to go to the lightest end as long as the jig could sink reasonably fast to cover all water column.

And don't be afraid of downsize your lure, big fish eat small baits a lot more than I thought! A max 48g rod should cover like 15-20g as the lower range while still maintaining optimal distance so give it a try

Gonna have to ask u technique on bottom bashing. I have been doing it with double hops.

[lhan]

2 hours ago, faker said:

Gonna have to ask u technique on bottom bashing. I have been doing it with double hops.

I guess that would work too! But SP hops might not give jigs enough action I imagine. I just do one pitch jerk once or twice, let it tension fall and repeat - typical shore slow. Point the rod upwards if you want more action and flutter or to the side if you wanna save some energy, both work very well!

[linewetter]

On 5/18/2024 at 9:49 AM, faker said:

I really need a brag mat 😆 tape measures just ain't cutting it but I wanted to travel light weight. But it really was 3 weeks since I had a session due to going through some personal hardship. Found it immensely relieving and therapeutic.

I recommend something like the Rapala RCD ruler. It’s like a retractable measuring tape but big text so easy to see measurements in pics. I like it cause it’s big enough text that I don’t have to put the fish on it and can just put it next to the ruler and keep it clean and don’t have to work as hard to get fish slime off like with a brag mat 

[faker]

9 hours ago, linewetter said:

I recommend something like the Rapala RCD ruler. It’s like a retractable measuring tape but big text so easy to see measurements in pics. I like it cause it’s big enough text that I don’t have to put the fish on it and can just put it next to the ruler and keep it clean and don’t have to work as hard to get fish slime off like with a brag mat 

Thanks

[XD351]

10 hours ago, linewetter said:

I recommend something like the Rapala RCD ruler. It’s like a retractable measuring tape but big text so easy to see measurements in pics. I like it cause it’s big enough text that I don’t have to put the fish on it and can just put it next to the ruler and keep it clean and don’t have to work as hard to get fish slime off like with a brag mat 

I use the Daiwa one available at an iso fishing supply store here in Sydney .

I like it because it is retractable, has nice big numbers and by adding a carabiner clip it can be clipped to a backpack or your belt so no digging around in my bag looking for it - Daiwa also make a fantastic little fish grip as well - not cheap but small enough to fit in your pocket or clip to a bag and top quality- available at the same place as the measure.

 

[Steve0]

DPI sell a Catch & Release mat that rolls up to go in your tack bag/box. Blue text on white background gives a good background and clear numbers for photos. Mine is well used and still good.   The price is very reasonable (probably non-profit). Postage would include 'handling', so not cheap, but overall cost remains less expensive than comparable retailer mats.

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/

Search for 'Catch and release fishing'

 

 

[big Neil]

On 5/20/2024 at 7:10 AM, faker said:

Gonna have to ask u technique on bottom bashing. I have been doing it with double hops.

I think everyone has difficulty working out the best retrieve to catch fish. A sure way to succeed is to keep trying and vary things up. Try to imagine what your lure is doing beneath the water. Flatties are ambush predators, they lie hidden on the bottom and pounce on their prey. Firstly they would sense the movement of the prey via their lateral line, then they would see it and attack it. Don't be in any hurry to get your lure back either. Often they will get hit just sitting on the bottom or when a slight twitch of your rod moves them a few inches. As I said, vary it up and take your time. Cover the area thoroughly before moving to another area. Fish drop offs and areas where there are weeds nearby.

Good luck, fishing is about putting the time in and trying different things. Fishing will also help with any life issues you are having...don't suffer in silence.

bn

Edited May 21 by big Neil
more info

[faker]

On 5/21/2024 at 6:55 AM, XD351 said:

I use the Daiwa one available at an iso fishing supply store here in Sydney .

I like it because it is retractable, has nice big numbers and by adding a carabiner clip it can be clipped to a backpack or your belt so no digging around in my bag looking for it - Daiwa also make a fantastic little fish grip as well - not cheap but small enough to fit in your pocket or clip to a bag and top quality- available at the same place as the measure.

 

Thanks