Fishing Victoria Forum

Thanks for the tips everybody...I'm so stoked I feel like chuckin a sickie tomorrow to get out there!

Fish in PPB and you're bound to get one sooner or later. Keep your chin up, I get them mainly on paternoster rigs on the run out tide. Don't be afraid to fish shallow water for them. Move your bait once in a while as Seephil said, they lie prone on the bottom for long periods and won't bite unless your bait gets their attention.

When you DO get one, make sure you handle with care, they have gill spikes that can hurt you. Use a towel or rag over them. I usually snip off the spikes with a scissors if I'm keeping them.

I agree with the moving bait, have caught many flatties straight after reeling in slightly. However, bit of a double edge sword. Preference is a heavier sinker to hold bottom as that's where they lay but be careful dragging star sinkers along the bottom. Very easy to snag. I have lost a lot of rigs and gear doing this locally..

As the water temp cools down .. so does the action (activity of fish), another thing to keep in mind. It may not be that your doing something wrong, its just its not the time of year for it.

I just picked up a 50cm (and my brother got one of 47cm) Yank flathead land based from the Yarra River this Saturday. The fish went 1kg and 800 grams respectively. Interestingly, they are the only two flathead we've ever encountered that far up the river in 20 years of fishing it.

I had a pan-sized flattie on Saturday afternoon off the kiddies beach at Inverloch on a pink squidgie (SP), no more than 5 yards out - jnr playing on beach next to me - perfect. Largest for me is 65cm caught two years ago at Sandringham Marina.

Tasted great on the BBQ.

biggest for me 69cm at sandy marina with a shimano catana soft plastics rod 2500 sienna reel 10lb aldi braid 10lb leader 1/8 tt jighead gary glitter wriggler about 5yrs ago no net so took some time to land

dazz999 wrote:biggest for me 69cm at sandy marina with a shimano catana soft plastics rod 2500 sienna reel 10lb aldi braid 10lb leader 1/8 tt jighead gary glitter wriggler about 5yrs ago no net so took some time to land

didnt know back then the importance off putting the big ones back then so flatty for tea also back then could fillet very well so took it to my mate a jims fish and chip shop he old man showed me the correct way to fillet

crappy pic but you get it