Weekend at Boggy Creek

[jdollazz]

Went down to Boggy Creek over the weekend (Saturday & Sunday morning on the incoming tide) and had some success with the soft plastics so I thought I'd share and ask some questions

 

Managed to catch this one Saturday morning at about 9am after getting down there just before 7am (high tide was 9:30am)

 

 

Then on Sunday I had immediate success with my second cast. It was so quick I wasn't sure if the jig had even hit the bottom before hooking on at around 8am. Don't know why but this one went off like a cut snake so getting the hook out took a while but I got there eventually. Tried a few different spots in the creek for a few more hours but unfortunately this was it for the day

You'll have to excuse the Powerfish mat, its a loaner 

So I've been fishing occasionally as a kid but I've only gotten back into it since December last year so I have a few questions.

Firstly, do you guys reckon the flathead in this area can get much bigger than this? I know in QLD the legal limit is 40cm but these flathead are only just over so I've just been putting them back. The only info I can find says 50 cm ones are common so I was hoping to catch one a little closer to that before I think about taking it home 

Second - Is it possible I might be pulling up the same exact flathead? I tend to fish around the same 100m~ of the bank down there near the ramp and I'd feel bad if I was just picking on the same fella but I'm not sure if its likely. Is there something distinctive I can look for on the fish so I'd be able to tell? (Definitely showing my inexperience here) 

Also I'm not great at identifying fish yet but I caught some other lil ones and took photos. I'm always interested and keen to learn if anyone would like to help me out 

This is my first post and I'm looking for any advice & critiques! 

 

Cheers!

[Angry51]

Welcome to the forum.

Great first post. Good catch too.

Next time you catch one take him home and eat him

then if you catch another you'll know it wasn't the same one.

[ellicat]

Welcome to the forum, Jack. Good to see a report first up.

You've done well with the plastics for a new starter.

It is unlikely you are catching the same fish. The smaller fish are usually male and congregate in similar sizes together with a single female around this time of year. Keep at it and you will land a bigger one sooner or later. I've seen two bigger models (53 and `60) when I've been fishing near the mouth of Boggy, so you're definitely in with a chance.

Take care around the gills when they are going berserk as they have some nasty spikes that will cut you and hurt for awhile.

Post up the pics of fish you need to get an ID on. Someone here will know.

[jdollazz]

1 hour ago, Angry51 said:

Welcome to the forum.

Great first post. Good catch too.

Next time you catch one take him home and eat him

then if you catch another you'll know it wasn't the same one.

haha thanks mate, the simplest solution is usually the best 

[jdollazz]

55 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Welcome to the forum, Jack. Good to see a report first up.

You've done well with the plastics for a new starter.

It is unlikely you are catching the same fish. The smaller fish are usually male and congregate in similar sizes together with a single female around this time of year. Keep at it and you will land a bigger one sooner or later. I've seen two bigger models (53 and `60) when I've been fishing near the mouth of Boggy, so you're definitely in with a chance.

Take care around the gills when they are going berserk as they have some nasty spikes that will cut you and hurt for awhile.

Post up the pics of fish you need to get an ID on. Someone here will know.

thanks Brian, it's only taken me a month to make a post 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I just wasn't too sure as I haven't caught many flathead before but am now leaning towards taking my next legal one home 

 

This is probably obvious but I'm still just not that confident ID'ing certain fish - i think this is a little Trevally? If it is there tend to be plenty of them around in Boggy on the incoming tide 

 

I cant find my other photos right now but if I do I'll post them up later 

 

[ellicat]

Yep, that's a trevally. Couldn't tell you which type though - there are so many.

[GregOug]

Welcome Jack. Nice fish. I think. Can’t be sure though because the guy you borrowed that brag mat from will be a Southsider. He’ll want it back before the next annual North vs South of the river comp begins. All the southsliders have one. Us Northsiders would never stoop to such tactics.

[The Mad Hughesy]

hey mate, looks like a small GT to me. just fyi too, for land based youve done well. especially on plastics.

 

the flathead ive caught at boggy creek landbased have all been small too. that area is great for flathead. if you ever get the chance, a small kayak around that area produces flathead really well

[jdollazz]

15 hours ago, GregOug said:

Welcome Jack. Nice fish. I think. Can’t be sure though because the guy you borrowed that brag mat from will be a Southsider. He’ll want it back before the next annual North vs South of the river comp begins. All the southsliders have one. Us Northsiders would never stoop to such tactics.

haha fair play mate you got me there, we both are 

[jdollazz]

5 hours ago, christophagus said:

hey mate, looks like a small GT to me. just fyi too, for land based youve done well. especially on plastics.

 

the flathead ive caught at boggy creek landbased have all been small too. that area is great for flathead. if you ever get the chance, a small kayak around that area produces flathead really well

thanks chris! I've been tempted by the kayaks for some time now - Facebook knows it too, my feed is clogged with fishing kayak ads 

i'm lucky enough to have a mate taking me out in his tinny Friday after next so maybe we'll try Boggy again. hopefully I'll have something to report back with!    

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Nice work @jdollazz. I've heard of flatties over 75cm in Boggy Creek but not sure about landbased. It's unlikely but possible it is the same flatty too. The trevally are good eating when they get larger (i.e. 45cm), but a flatty would definitely be better.

Cheers Hamish

[Leeroy]

Looks like a big eye trev.

Good dog food or live shark bait.

[Hweebe]

On 12/09/2022 at 6:56 PM, jdollazz said:

Firstly, do you guys reckon the flathead in this area can get much bigger than this? 

Second - Is it possible I might be pulling up the same exact flathead?

1) Have fished Boggy creek and you will definitely get some larger specimens with the right tides and being in the right spot.

You will find the just legal size +10cm is the most common size there when targeting flatties

 

2) Unlikely but possible - Best bet is take as a keeper for a feed