still chasing my first illusive flattie

[stona]

hi everyone just after some advice on where i should keep trying to catch my first water lizard.
I'm keen to get him on a soft plastic and have tried mordialloc pier and i've flicked up the beach from mordialloc pier north side for about 500m.

No luck so far on 5 occasions starting to doubt im looking in the right places.
If anyone has any advice as to whether to keep trying the pier around the river mouth or keep trying a flick up more of the beach or even another spot relatively close by id really appreciate it as i really want to tick this one off my "caught" list.


Quick update on mordi pier its slow going at the moment although there was a school of salmon swimming just out of casting distance shouldn't be long before they are around again and within reach. Also there were small squid that would follow the jig but too timid to strike. Cloudy day should give better results.

cheers

stona

[Scraglor]

Thanks for the report, I havent had a great deal of luck lately at mordi, just tons of small pinkies off the pier, and toadies in the river. Hopefully it picks up soon. Might have a crack Wednesday weather dependant

[purple5ive]

what plastic and retrieve are you using, you should get atleast one now as they are everywhere...

[kabo]

I caught my first flathead at lagoon pier (on bait though). The pier was chockers, so I was a fair way down towards the beach. I would think you could reach that point fairly easily with a soft plastic from the beach, but haven't tried it.

[stona]

im using a squidgy scented soft plastic with a slow retrieval

[purple5ive]

im using a squidgy scented soft plastic with a slow retrieval

a bit more info wouldnt go astray. like what plastic type, and what kind of slow retrieve
for flathead you want somethign with a curly or paddle tail and the plastic neeeds to be on the bottom..
so even having the right plastic but just slowly winding it in will not work in most cases if the plastic isnt getting to the bottom..

i would buy some gulp paddle tails on a 1/8th jighead 1/0 hook and cast out and let it sit on the bottom, then just slowly lift and drop, let it sit for 10sec then repeat..

[frozenpod]

Since you haven't caught any I would suggest you start by using bait.

But it you want to use a plastic, use a 1/2oz jig head and a 100mm plastic.

Also at this time of year look for deeper cooler water.

[stona]

im using a paddle tail scented squidgy on a 1/8th jig head casting out into only a meter or so of water about 30 meters out

it hits the bottom in a few seconds been slowly lifting letting sink then repeating

[purple5ive]

might be they just not there mate...
you seem to be doign the right thing...
i would change the plastic and try a different one, but flathead arent very picky..
try another spot perhaps..

[stona]

thanks for the advice i might head further up the bay black rock to st kilda seem to be producing some so might have more luck there