Tassie has a real soft spot for flatties

RENOWNED for its game fishing and freshwater fishery, Tasmania can also lay claim to having some of the best recreational flathead fisheries anywhere in the world.

Known as a “bread and butter” species, flathead are easy to catch, and Tasmania’s large coastline ensures there is plenty of water for everyone to try to target this species.

Most Tasmanian kids cut their fishing teeth of species that are accidental catches, such as salmon or mullet, but in most holiday destinations the humble sand flathead lurks.

If anglers, especially youngsters, learn to target them, they and their families will be amazed at the size of some of the species of flathead that inhabit our waters.

Tasmania is host to three major species of flathead. These are the tiger, sand and blue spot flathead.

Specialised gear is not required, but one must remember that some species of flathead, such as the tiger, do have large serrated teeth and can make short work of everyday mono.

A good video to watch can be found with this link: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BDCRrs2mj9M

Rigs for flathead should be simple. As I said, it’s a bread and butter staple for most CARL HYLAND anglers. Those who chase them for the table need only the two hooks and sinker rig (Paternoster) to be able to get among fish.

Not everyone owns a boat or is fortunate enough to be able to get out in a boat. Therefore, a lot of catches are made from the shore. This in turn can be detrimental to the species because many big female flatheads come close inshore each year to mate and breed (usually October and November).

There are many people who chase flatties for sport, because this fish will give a good account of itself on light tackle and soft plastic jigs.

I used to have great success trolling a silver wobbler behind my little rowboat in two metres of water.

The puff of sand from the lure that matched my rowing stroke made for an attractive enticement for lurking flathead. Those coupled with sometimes a lumo bead or, even better still, a bright orange bead used to get me some good fish.

Soft plastics work well and, if presented correctly, will often outfish most other methods.

I can recommend the orange/pumpkinseed curltail grubs. There is also a fantastic range of sandworm type lures that work well.

Baits should be big and sloppy. In saying that, a prawn rigged as a bait with a 1/0 circle hook will often outfish all other baits and lures.

Flathead are ambush predators, and bait that looks like the real thing will often bring savage strikes.

A small strip of silver trevally or the belly skin of another fish rigged on small hooks and moved slowly will get you strikes.

I remember some years ago using milar (old wine cask) to tie some small flies on a hook ahead of my bait. This method was very successful.

Whatever you choose to do, remember to limit your catch and try not to catch your limit.