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How To Catch Warm Water Flathead
By Jacob Iedema
Flathead are a common target species for many who enjoy wetting a line and while you don't have to be an expert to catch them, there are a few tips and tricks that can dramatically improve your success on the water. Targeting flathead in the warming waters of spring and early summer often contrasts targeting them in the cooler months. Their hunting locations vary as well as the bait they prey upon. The warmer temperatures also affect the general behaviour of flathead and their readiness to attack a lure.
Lure Selection
Flathead aren't the pickiest of predators out there, however the shape, colour and size of a lure can influence a flathead's urgency to eat. This is especially the case if the fish aren't actively feeding. When selecting a lure, it is important to recognise the bait that is naturally present while you are out on the water and try to replicate it with your lure. Spring is well known to be prawn season and prawns make up the majority of the diet of many fish during these months.
So, if you're unsure what to lure to tie on, a prawn lure is always a good option. The ZMan 3.5" EZ ShrimpZ is one of the best prawn imitations available and this little lure has proven its worth throughout summer and spring on a plethora of species. Flathead can't resist a ShrimpZ.
Along with prawns, the warming water increases the activity of all other crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters, shrimps, yabbies and crayfish. This is where the ZMan range of soft plastics can offer anglers presentations to match any crustacean that they might come across when targeting flathead on a flat, pressure edge or other structure. Lures such as the ZMan 2.5" TRD CrawZ, 3" Scented ShrimpZ, 3.5" Pro CrawZ, 4" Turbo CrawZ, 3" Baby GOAT, 3.75" GOAT and the 4.25" Billy GOAT are all effective options when targeting warm water flathead.
If you find that small baitfish are the predominate source of food, then the ZMan 3" Slim SwimZ, 3" MinnowZ and 3.5" Trick SwimZ are effective options.
Lure Colour
Now we have chosen the type of lure to tie on, we can better improve our chances by selecting the best suited colour for the conditions being fished. Water clarity is the biggest factor that should impact your colour selection as it affects the fish's abilities to see a lure. In dirty water there are two options for colour selection, a dark colour can be selected to have a bold silhouette in the water or alternatively a bright lure can be selected that reflects a lot of light. On the other hand, if the water is relatively clear then the most realistic and natural colours are the most effective.
Scent
Fish have the senses of taste and smell, so scent is a vital piece of kit to bring flathead fishing and I never go without a few flavours of quality scent. Scent can be the switch that makes a fish eat a lure, compared to not being interested in it. When it comes to flathead that lie in ambush, they get a limited amount of time to investigate a lure. The scent on your lure will stimulate the fish into eating even more so than just the lure itself. It's important to make your presentation as realistic as possible. My go-to scents to use in warmer months when targeting flathead include Pro-Cure Super Gel in Saltwater Yabby/Nipper, Shrimp and Mullet flavours. These flavours match the bait present in the areas that I fish during the warmer months.
Water Depth/Temperature
Flathead are well known to be shallow water dwelling and while this is true, during spring flathead will congregate in slightly deeper water, commonly around 3-6 metres. Once a school is located it can often make for some 'fish a cast' sessions. Flathead gather like this in preparation to spawn, where many smaller males surround one or a few large females. When the fish are spawning it is important to practise healthy catch and release to protect the flathead fishery.
In summer, when the days are long and hot, fish become significantly less active in the middle of the day. Flathead tend to move up onto the flats during the night and feed there in the early morning before moving out into deeper water as the temperature and sun rises. This makes fishing the flats a great option for early mornings, especially around the edges of a flat where flathead are able to move to and from the deep and shallow water throughout the day. Moving out into deeper water, once the sun is in a high position in the sky, is a great way to produce more fish later in a session.
Finding Fish
When locating flathead on the flats it is crucial to cover ground as unlike in deeper water, flathead on the flats don't tend to school up. Covering ground is important in deeper water to locate the schools and even more important on the flats where the fish are scattered as they feed. When fishing deeper water boat channels are a great place to search for flathead, especially if the water is four metres or deeper. Once flathead have been found schooled up, they can often go off the bite if they get sick of seeing the same lure presented over and over again. Changing your lure every now and then can often produce more fish throughout a session.
Gearing Up
Gearing up for flathead is simpler than most believe, with a few packets of soft plastics and jigheads to suit, a rod, reel and appropriate line virtually all that's required.
I prefer a 2-4kg rod matched with a 2500 size reel when targeting flathead. When spooling up, a supple braid is essential when fishing soft plastics, with stiff and wiry braids absorbing any hits and making working your lure near impossible. I always spool up with Australian Made Platypus quality braids to ensure long casts and always feel the bites. I run 8lb to 10lb braid, matched with a quality 10lb or 12lb leader and have found this plenty enough to stop even the biggest crocodiles.
My Flathead Gear
Rod: Okuma Cerros Spinning Rods - CER-S-701ML 7' 2-4kg
Reel: Okuma ITX Carbon Spin Reel - ITX-2500
Line: Platypus Pulse X8 Braid - 8lb
Leader: Platypus Stealth FC Fluorocarbon - 10lb
Scent: Pro-Cure Mullet Super Gel Scent or Shrimp Super Gel
TOP 3 Flathead Soft Plastics:
ZMan 3" Slim SwimZ
ZMan 3.5" EZ ShrimpZ
ZMan 3" MinnowZ
Cheers, Jacob