How do you tell a female from a male flathead?

Kung Fugu · Post by **Kung Fugu** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 12:03 pm

I just read on one of the other threads not to keep large breeding females. How do you tell?

Scraglor · Post by **Scraglor** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 1:51 pm

I have heard two theories, one is that only the females grow larger than 50-55cm, the other is that males actually turn female when they hit that size. Whatever the case, it boils down to basically any flatty over 55cm will be a female. These are the ones people normally mean when they say "big breeder"

Post by **adamk** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:14 pm

MYTHBUSTED!- Dusky flathead do not change sex at a particular size. Quite simply females grow faster and larger than males. Males generally plateau at around 45cm in size whilst females keep growing.
However this does mean that any fish over 60cm is likely to be a mature female so release should be considered.

Mishachief · Post by **Mishachief** » Sat Mar 28, 2015 2:24 pm

yes.. its nice to catch a big lizard.. but nicer to release it.. and catch more of them one day

apparently from what i have read.. males grow about 40cm max... females much larger and both reach maturity around 20cm..

and this pic?? would be female... hope it got released.

Mishachief · Post by **Mishachief** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 1:11 am

watch fishing show yesturday... aparently its a myth that flathead change sex.... and they said if your flatty is at least 55cm.. its female.

Post by **re-tyred** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 5:21 am

The best way is put your ear up close and listen. The males just keep saying "yes dear"

Fishsniper · Post by **Fishsniper** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 6:37 am

I'm pretty sure the males have a penis??? Na, but I think the males stop growing at about 45cm

nafa · Post by **nafa** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:35 am

The female ones have bigger mouths.

barra mick · Post by **barra mick** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:40 am

Mishachief wrote:yes.. its nice to catch a big lizard.. but nicer to release it.. and catch more of them one day

apparently from what i have read.. males grow about 40cm max... females much larger and both reach maturity around 20cm..

and this pic?? would be female... hope it got released.

thats a fair flatty

Bm

Post by **frozenpod** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:41 am

Depends on the species of flathead.

Duskys, the smaller flathead require gonad inspection with a microscope to determine the sex. Larger models you can tell a difference but which is which I don't know.

Males grow up to 55cm but they are rarely seen over 50cm.

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How do you tell a female from a male flathead?

How do you tell a female from a male flathead?

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