queensland Where are the flathead biting?

[fish0clock]

Hi Guys, just joined this forum, getting back into my fishing after a year and starting to use the soft plastics and hard bodies. Really trying to find some nice sized flatheads. I have tried Nudgee Beach, Cabbage Treek Creek/Shorncliffe, Clontarf, Woody Point, no luck. 

Where have people been catching flatties lately?

[John]

welcome to the site @fish0clock

hope you enjoy the AFO community 

[Alexx]

7 hours ago, fish0clock said:

Hi Guys, just joined this forum, getting back into my fishing after a year and starting to use the soft plastics and hard bodies. Really trying to find some nice sized flatheads. I have tried Nudgee Beach, Cabbage Treek Creek/Shorncliffe, Clontarf, Woody Point, no luck. 

Where have people been catching flatties lately?

Hey mate. Welcome.

They are definitely at Nudgee. Just need to be persistent. Try using Squidgee Wrigglers here in the blood-worm colour, and match the jig head size to the rate of flow when you fish so you make sure you're on the bottom. At Nudgee this can be between 1/8 ounce up to even 3/8+. Blades work well too.

You can also try the flats to the east of the Pinkenba Boat ramp. Got my PB there, and they are not shy of hitting the 5"+ soft plastics here. But 4" jerk shad style is a solid choice here in the brighter colors.

Sometimes it can be hard with timing, by try to exclusively fish the run out tide, and don't stay/cast in the same place over and over. Move around and pepper your casts so you are covering more ground. 

Sorry if you already know this mate, but with flatties it is all about getting the basics right and persistence. 

Also, check out Landangler's blog. Just google him and it will come up, otherwise I can link you his blog. 

Cheers.

[fish0clock]

@Alexx  appreciate the feedback. I am definitely new to the lure/soft plastic game so thanks for the advice. I do have a very similar rig so hopefully I will have some success. I will give Pinkenba/nudgee a go soon and let you know how I go! cheers

[Angus]

I have also heard surprisingly good things about the Pinkenba Boat Ramp. A mate (Do$tylz) from the site managed several 60cm+ flathead there one after the other in a short session on plastics.

Angus

[samsteele115]

49 minutes ago, Angus said:

I have also heard surprisingly good things about the Pinkenba Boat Ramp. A mate (Do$tylz) from the site managed several 60cm+ flathead there one after the other in a short session on plastics.

Angus

Another 'guaranteed' flathead spot just like at straddy?  

@fish0clockKeep persisting with flathead in the likely looking territory and you will pick one up. 

 

[Skegz]

Usually cabbage tree creek will deliver around a 40cm flathead when fishing the mud flats on the top of the run in and run out. Also lost a 50-55 in there one arvo. Nice little creek if you can pick your times.

Also been hit by flatheads on the drop with 3" Curl Tail Plastics.

[fish0clock]

@Angus the pinkebba boat ramp, is there a pathway parallel to the rockwall following the river up? Just judging from the map theres the refinery fences

[Albinus]

I was collecting soldier crabs for bait at Scarborough on Sunday and noticed quite a few flathead lies amongst the rays along Endeavour Esplanade. Wynnum has always been good at high tide as well.

[Alexx]

10 hours ago, fish0clock said:

@Angus the pinkebba boat ramp, is there a pathway parallel to the rockwall following the river up? Just judging from the map theres the refinery fences

You can just walk along the top of the rock wall as you pepper casts. It gets deeper towards and past the Wagner's Cement wharf, however legally you are not allowed within a certain distance from them when a ship is in dock. (I think it was 20 meters? I could be wrong).

[kmcrosby78]

What gear are you using when chasing flathead mate?

[fish0clock]

@kmcrosby78 i only recently changed my rig. I was using the same rig for my bait fishing so 30lb braid to 30lb mono leader, 7' graphite rod, 3-5kg, 3500 reel. Loop knot to a soft plastic, curly tails and paddle tails. I am only new to the lure game and I was told that this is serious overkill. So I have rigged my second rod up, shimano 1-3kg graphite rod, 2000 daiwa aird reel. 8lb braid to 10lb flurocarbon leader. I am yet to use it for lures so I will find out how it goes this weekend.

[samsteele115]

The specs of that setup sound perfect for flathead. Good luck with it!

[kmcrosby78]

Ditto what Sam said. Yeah I asked because I noticed your other thread and was worried that you may be using gear that is too heavy. Good luck - reckon you'll nail some!!

[Albinus]

Mate - great to hear you have a lighter setup for the second outfit. Nice choice!

[fish0clock]

Tried nudgee this morning, caught a 32cm flounder and nothing after. Saw a guy catcht a 55cm flathead using prawns though. Lighter rig felt pretty good with the soft plastics. Thanks for the help lads, hopefully I'll get the big flatty next time.

[The Mad Hughesy]

if you can @fish0clock try fishing further up the creek where it isn't fished as heavily, can produce some better results if the mouth area is getting hammered

never caught a flounder on a plastic..

[Thirstyman]

I have caught a flounder in that exact spot too, first fish for me on plastics. Can anyone vouch for their eatability?

[samsteele115]

Thanks for reporting . Well done on catching the flounder! Never caught one. The flatty will come soon  @fish0clock

[kmcrosby78]

2 hours ago, Thirstyman said:

I have caught a flounder in that exact spot too, first fish for me on plastics. Can anyone vouch for their eatability?

I haven't eaten them for years but I can tell you they are a beautiful fish to eat - very white and delicate flesh.  Yum!!

[Albinus]

5 hours ago, Thirstyman said:

I have caught a flounder in that exact spot too, first fish for me on plastics. Can anyone vouch for their eatability?

Flounder and their brethren sole are amazing table fish. I used to cook mine whole and the skin and skeleton just peel off the flesh. In my top 3 eating fish.

[curranboy99]

Hi fish0clock

May be a bit late to reply but I thought I might add to this thread.

All of these spots you have been fishing are known to produce flathead as well as other bread n butter species it just takes persistence and effort the two things I don't give to flathead. But going on what I've been told and seen and a little bit of experience.

At nudgee; I've been told by tackle shops that the bread n butter hold at the mouth during low tide stages and I've seen that flathead get caught more so on baits rather than lures, but if I were to choose lures grub style with jighead to match would be the go. and in general bread n butter fishing the prime conditions at nudgee I've found are rising tide from low to high, a cross shore wind preferred WSW, and sunny weather with a bit of cloud.

At Shorncliffe (landbased near baxters jetty); I've seen good flathead pushing 60cm on pillies as well as heaps of anglers chasing them on plastics so they must be there and it seems to be on the falling tide they get caught.

Also regarding access to the Pinkenba Wall (beside boat-ramp), there is a pathway beside the fence that runs for about 1km then it turns into grassy land but you can still walk along the wall for another 1km or so, and about the wagners dock I've fished right next to it while there was a ship in dock but I did get permission to by the guard (very luckly) and he gave me a few tips on the area and apparently it's the guards choice if they let people fish there as there is no set in stone rule but can prosecute certain people if they look dodgy and looking for trouble as you'll see with the fire pits and beer cans everywhere.

I do hope this helps, it's limited knowledge I know but at leasts it something I guess and the rules at wagners dock may have changed in the last 6 months but that is what they were than.     

[n8360901]

On 2016年1月11日 at 0:47 PM, Alexx said:

Hey mate. Welcome.

They are definitely at Nudgee. Just need to be persistent. Try using Squidgee Wrigglers here in the blood-worm colour, and match the jig head size to the rate of flow when you fish so you make sure you're on the bottom. At Nudgee this can be between 1/8 ounce up to even 3/8+. Blades work well too.

You can also try the flats to the east of the Pinkenba Boat ramp. Got my PB there, and they are not shy of hitting the 5"+ soft plastics here. But 4" jerk shad style is a solid choice here in the brighter colors.

Sometimes it can be hard with timing, by try to exclusively fish the run out tide, and don't stay/cast in the same place over and over. Move around and pepper your casts so you are covering more ground. 

Sorry if you already know this mate, but with flatties it is all about getting the basics right and persistence. 

Also, check out Landangler's blog. Just google him and it will come up, otherwise I can link you his blog. 

Cheers.

That's expert opinion.  You should learn it! 

[Avitir]

Raby Bay foreshore and canals can produce some good flatheads. Got a 56cm one in the canals along with 3 legal bream and an undersized cod.

[Ubolt]

I have caught a few flathead recently on plastics. The technique I have used is casting so the plastics is coming back down or across the tidal flow. Just a constant slow roll with a couple of twitches. Best so far is 60 cm. managed a few bream and an estuary cod as well. Using 3 inch paddle tail lures and a 1/8th jig head. 

[Angus]

On 1/15/2016 at 11:29 AM, fish0clock said:

Tried nudgee this morning, caught a 32cm flounder and nothing after. Saw a guy catcht a 55cm flathead using prawns though. Lighter rig felt pretty good with the soft plastics. Thanks for the help lads, hopefully I'll get the big flatty next time.

 

Man that is still a sweet capture and the good news is if you got that you are doing the right thing

I have caught a lot of flounder but often tiny ones 32cm is pretty solid (and they taste amazing).

Well done and keep it up!

Angus

[Angus]

On 1/13/2016 at 0:23 PM, fish0clock said:

@kmcrosby78 i only recently changed my rig. I was using the same rig for my bait fishing so 30lb braid to 30lb mono leader, 7' graphite rod, 3-5kg, 3500 reel. Loop knot to a soft plastic, curly tails and paddle tails. I am only new to the lure game and I was told that this is serious overkill. So I have rigged my second rod up, shimano 1-3kg graphite rod, 2000 daiwa aird reel. 8lb braid to 10lb flurocarbon leader. I am yet to use it for lures so I will find out how it goes this weekend.

P.S. this combo change was probably the first big success in your mission. This is far more ideal for plastics work than the previous.

[fish0clock]

tried sunrise at nudgee again, caught first flatty on soft plastics, was only  small so a throw back. gotta legal bream and that was it for the day. no one else was catching anything, lot of people on hard bodies.