QLD Pine river 22/5 biggest yak fish, not what i wanted

[jfish87]

Paddled out from the Bald Hills ramp yesterday with the trusty Micro Mullet in tow. Half way out to the North Pine the lure goes off, I pick it up and start winding, there's a weight but no action so I figured maybe just a lump of debris. The second I see the leader knot (my leader is about five metres long) it takes off. After about 5 minutes of this back and forth I saw it, the biggest catfish I've ever seen in the Pine. Netted it, got my lure out (I love my Fastnet), estimated it to be about 55cm (and fat) then sent it on its way.

fat 52cm Catfish

Paddled up to the junction and all the way down to Deepwater bend with only a large stick to show for my efforts. When I tured around to come back, this is what I saw:

North pine glass

three quarters of the way back to the highway I noticed the micro mullet wasn't swimming properly (I'd been defouling the lure all day). Wound it in to find a micro flathead on my micro mullet. Quick happy snap and sent the little guy home.

micro Flatty

Back to paddlin' and just as I passed under the bridge I got hit, picked it up for a dead weight, same as the catfish. Winding in I can feel minor head shakes so maybe a little catty or flathead? Get the leader up again, and he takes a dive, and it gets me thinking this might not be so small after all. Couple of minutes and I see a nice (not huge, but legal) Flathead. (unfortunately I forgot to get a photo)
cruise around under the kayak, net out and grabbed it, he went 45 on the measure so he's coming home with me. Trolled all the way back for nothing in these conditions:

South Pine Lake

[Bretto]

Legal flattie and good weather. Looked like a good morning for it.

I'm heading out there on Friday morning to play around with my 3lb fluro setup. If the tides are right I'll probably take the flathead gear too.

[Evoids]

Looks like a nice morning out. South pine is one of my all time favourite spots to fish, the catfish can be monstrous around there though.

[Twinsrule]

Not a bad flatty, close to my PB.

[kayakone]

Nice morning jfish87.

That is a big cattie. They can go go go. Tried eating them?


That baby flattie...always amazes me how they can go for a lure nearly as big as themselves.

Trevor

[jfish87]

I did consider taking the catty for a minute, but I wasn't sure how I could get it home and clean it without getting the slime through everything.

[kayakone]

I did consider taking the catty for a minute, but I wasn't sure how I could get it home and clean it without getting the slime through everything.

They are slimey, but so are mud (estuary) flathead. Plus there is a bony extension way back in the dorsal area, which makes it 1/3 head and bony extension, but good flesh comes up right to this.

As to edible qualities, you probably need to decide yourself. Maybe keep one, clean it and cook it, (first throw away preconceptions as to flavour - a bit like sharks), and decide yourself.

cheers

Trevor

PS

Do be careful of the spines on the dorsal and other fins. If keeping one, I cut these off with side cutters, to avoid any risk of injury, and then it is safe to handle.

[Bretto]

Pine fished slow today... And wet. Plus side, a couple of legal bream and a high 40s flattie. Where did the big bream from a month ago disappear to?

[fishmond]

Sounds like you had a nice morning on the water m8.

I have caught those stinking catfish to near a meter... Logan river fishing for Bull sharks... big baits means big fish great big stinking cat fish lol!

Grats on the good flattie too, any legal flattie is fun and worth a chew.

Enjoy the pine m8, I'll have to head that way soon I think.

Richo

[fishmond]

Sorry m8, is that a dew fish? like a tandanus/ eel tail cattie? I was talking about salmon tail/fork tail catties.

cheers
Richo