Adelaide Metro Flathead 26/3/12

[Kelvin]

After a leisurely morning, I decided to have a quick fish for a few hours. Managed to launch at midday without getting my feet wet and was soon anchored over my spot. I deployed some burley and soon had a few taps. I changed to pieces of gar and soon had a good run with head shakes. I initially thought I had another snapper. The fish fought well on the 6lb line and light outfit and I was surprised but delighted when a nice flatty materialized from the depths. I lifted it in carefully and quickly dispatched it and put it in the esky.

Less than 10 min later and I had another good bite and soon had another flathead in the foot well of my yak. Thinking that would be it for the flathead, I changed over to small pieces of cuttlefish to try and tempt a whiting or two. A strong run had my rod doubled over and I was on again. I was not sure what I had hooked as I could feel headshakes but also alot of dead weight which I could not lift from the bottom. Some careful rod work soon had me gaining some line and I was amazed to see I had hooked a double header of good sized flathead. A quick muttered prayer and a lift and I had both fish in the footwell.

I was amazed to catch 4 flathead from metro waters. I usually only get a handful a year and usually only1 a trip. The fish were good size and ranged from 43cm to 48cm.

3 squid topped out the bag and will make for a very nice meal or two.

[feelfree09]

nice work mate. quite a nice metro feed for sure

[solatree]

Thats brilliant Kelvin - like you, its usually only one every now and then, although I did surprisingly get 3 in one trip once - but not of the size you got there ! Be great to get them consistently

[patwah]

Thats about $100 worth of seafood right there, nice one,

[Murphysegg]

[Squidley]

Thats about $100 worth of seafood right there, nice one,

word

Never heard of a double header of flathead before, lordy.

[kayakone]

Amazing fishing skills there

ENVIOUS Trevor

[Zilch]

That is a brilliant capture in SA and even more amazing in Adelaide metro waters.

Great work Kelvin !

Steve

[millonario]

Would you freeze any of that catch? Do you give any to friends or family? Just asking as I am too scared too take more than one at a time. If I knew anyone who liked fish I would keep some for them too but I cant see the point in freezing fish.

[Kelvin]

I freeze gar whiting squid snapper and any flathead surplus to immediate needs. I eat fresh any salmontrout, snook, tommies, and trevally and if frozen will smoke them. I give away plenty of fish to family

[kayakone]

What type of flattie is that?

I don't think we get that one here (we get a lot of 'mud' ('estuary') flatties).

Trevor

[Kelvin]

I believe these are Southern Sand Flathead (Platycephalus bassenis)

[solatree]

Southern blue spot perhaps ?

[kayakone]

Thanks guys for the guesswork.

Could they possibly be the Southern Rock Flathead (Platycephalus laevigatus)? They (almost) appear to have the widely-spaced ribbons mentioned in Grants Guide, and a short blocky snout....?

Trevor

[youngbrad]

pretty much the ideal seafood basket right there, incredibly jealous..

one fish im sure to catch as ive been targetting it for quite some time is flat head. pretty jealous with these postings