flattyfan4573

Fellow fishers A fish that's certainly had my attention for a long time has been the humble barred javelin. Having only recently acquired a tinny less than 2 years ago i'd never caught a legal one. This changed earlier in the year flicking lures around mud island. I hooked a nice one off the bottom (pics attached) and am pretty stoked about catching one locally over 60cm. I've not since been able to catch another even though trying whenever the weather allows. As always the case in fishing it leads to many questions, but moreso makes me hungrier to find them. I'm interested to see what others experience has been with these awesome fish, particularly in Moreton Bay (MB). Feel free to add whatever comes to mind when you think of them, biggest one youve caught, if you think theyre always around in MB in some form, if theres seasons. Not sure if it's just me but they seem to be popping up regularly (more regularly locally? or am i just noticing them) in my social media feeds, ppl asking for fish ids, some youtube clips even more recently. Totally understand if some dont want to share, either, but hope you like the pics....they are cool as.

ps. not letting me upload a picture

Dragged the family along for a trip on the bay for my fathers day present, selfishly! haha! any chance to get on the water for mine even if it involves persuading the missus, a 3 and a 5 year old its a good idea.! anyway all aboard the 3.85 tinny for a bash on the northern bay with hopes of a snapper or two. fishing wasnt exactly going off for us, but we were throwing 3" holt prawns and 3.75" zman streakz around reefy areas in the northern bay. the missus was first to strike with a sub30cm snapper that went back swiftly then my 3 yr old boy got a little bar tailed flatty that was too small aswell. no action for yours truly and the 3yr old was letting me know about that "dad wheres your big snapper?! dad wheres all your fish? dad you fish alot what are we going to fillet?! the nerve!!! anyway persistence paid off when on our third and final drift (kids werent lasting any longer) my holt prawn got an enquiry hopped off the bottom and i hooked up solid to a fish that cut 20m or so of water in a hurry!! when i got tight it felt like there was a bit of weight an after a tussle we had a ripper of a barred javelin in the net and up on the front thwart grunting its head off to the kids amusement...a first for me and a great surprise after years of wanting to cross paths with one.

Out of interest, I’m a seasoned filleter but the humble flatheads always been one of ‘those’ fish…a fish that you feel you could filllet better. Since watching this clip: I’ve become a lot more confident. Recovery wise and bone wise. also attached the second plate of dinner tonight…if the kids smash it not a bad sign

I mostly throw the 95mm and use golds greens n natural colours when water clarity is ok and go for more solid colours or bright when dirty. I don’t know the names. can’t knock a feed of fresh flatty Haven’t done a hole lot..but imagine they’d work?? Fish picking up vibrations…? Always worth a crack

Put the tinny in at the port of bris to fish the last couple hours of run out tide this arvo. Lucked into couple flatskulls in ambush mode hanging round a little drop off. Zerek fish trap did the damage . Bit of crumbed flatty tails for tea tomorrow night and my old neighbour will appreciate a couple bream fillets for his dinner tomorrow night. Cheers.

great post with some really nice fish. few years back was chasing them regularly offshore in the 15-25m range but lately been trying to learn the art of chasing them in the bay shallows. great fun on similar gear, biggest so far well shy of yours (49cm) but boy oh boy do you know youve hooked them!

Nice fish for the effort put in