Flathead

Chasing flathead is how half the country cuts their angling teeth, but flathead can offer plenty for avid fishos as well! These fish are great eating and can be found in numbers in the “table” sized fish, or time can be invested in stalking the trophy monsters that occasionally get over a metre!

The secret to consistent success on flathead is understanding how these ambush predators hunt and move during the tide and what they are currently preying on. These fish hold in all different depths and different methods are effective across each.

Shallow Water Lizards

Arguably the most accessible for everyone is shallow water flathead. Covering ground throwing hard bodies like the Daiwa Double Clutch, or soft plastics like the Keitech Easy Shiner on a 1/6oz jig head is a great way to catch fish. Covering ground quickly is the key, whilst focusing attention around weed, drop offs, drains, structure and yabby holes, as these are most likely to hold consistent numbers. Watching the flow on flats is integral, fishing areas where bait is being forced off a flat on a falling tide will definitely be an ambush spot for a few lizards.

Daran Ryan - Fishing Tackle Store Manager at MoTackle & Outdoors

Deepwater Flathead

Deep water fishing can unlock some great numbers and consistent fishing. Drifting rock walls or targeting drop offs and bridges holding bait can be loaded with fish. Hard vibes like the new TT Switchprawn+ Blade or soft vibes like the Samaki Vibelicious have been really great for us on the north coast recently. Work a vibe with a mix of slow lift drops and aggressive hops to see what the fish are reacting to. The key to vibe fishing is getting a lure that you can consistently fish on the bottom, but doesn’t fall too fast through the water as most takes are when the lure is falling.

Cameron Hall - Estuarine Specialist at MoTackle & Outdoors

Chasing The Big One

It would be impossible to talk about the humble lizard without addressing big bait fishing for trophy fish. The key to consistent success in this field is time on water, persistence and being willing to do some reconnaissance. When working new ground, I love investing time in walking around on low tide and making mental note of where I find the big flathead shape marks (lays) in the sand, then revisit hours later when water is over the flat can be very fruitful. I will also mark where I spook big flathead and the time in the tide, as you will often find large fish frequent the same area at the same time in the tide. Targeting these big fish in 1m or less can be very visual, exhilarating or even gut wrenching at times as you often see the big ones you miss or drop. A blend of big baits will tease even the most stubborn big fish. Jointed glide baits, surface bents and large plastics are all great options and will surely tease a few big girls stalking the flats. The baits I would never leave home without are Crossfire 155mm or 190mm, Westin HypoTeez, some pink 9-inch Sluggos and the new Megabass Hasu Raver, all of which have done great work for me in the shallows.

Here at Motackle, we have now created the Motackle Flathead Urunga Tournament Pack which has some of our favourite lures, hand-picked by our very own staff, from some of the biggest and best brands in the game to target Flathead. The perfect choice when trying to decide on what lures to bring! You can find the pack in the products above!

This season is shaping up to be a cracker in our estuaries, so there’s no better time to chase a feed or that photo fish of a lifetime! - Matthew Townes