Flathead Fishing Gear

Flathead live in a range of habitats from sheltered rocky reefs to sandy or muddy areas at depths of less than 1 m to 25 m. The best time to catch one is in the three days leading up to and following a full moon, just after full tide as this is when they are most active.

A common technique is to give the soft plastic lure two flicks off the bottom and let it sink back down. Repeat this the whole way in but most importantly keep your plastic in contact with the bottom as flathead will partially bury themselves on the bottom and ambush bait.

The most common bait used for flathead fishing are pilchards, whitebait and squid, however, they'll likely nibble on any saltwater baits. Three to four-inch soft plastic lures are great for flathead, particularly those with a curly tail and paddle tail profile due to their action. Common size jig heads used in an estuary system range from 1/8th of an ounce to 1/4 of an ounce. For hard body lures, a general rule it to use diving lures that are 40-70mm in length. Choose a diving lure that will dive to a depth that will allow it to consistently run into the bottom, this stirs the bottom up and can often attract an ambushing flathead.

Braided line is best for flathead fishing with lures, particularly soft plastics as you'll feel more in terms of bites thanks to the minimal stretch and it can also be more effective for driving working your lure. However, flathead are capable of destroying line so it's recommended that a 10-15lb fluorocarbon leader is used.