The technique used here is to fish really light tackle and let the prawn drift across sandbanks or into oyster beds etc

Another option for flathead is a lightly weighted natural looking prawn.

Squidgy Pro Wriggler Soft Plastic Lure 80mmįor lure choice it’s all about getting as close to the bottom as possible, a number of anglers will choose to deliberately scuff up mud with a heavy plastic or select a wriggling tail to draw additional attention.

Using anything from a 2/0 to 6/0 hook depending on the size of bait, ganged hooks for whole pilchards, long shanks for prawns.

Live yabbies wriggling around on a hook are the bait of choice, but most baits should get the job done. Berkley Fireline Original Braid Line – 125yds, 6lbįlathead is probably the least discriminatory of all the fish eating most baits which move into their strike zone.Lighter line will also improve natural drift in the water and cast distance. Light gear keeps the contest interesting as flathead are not renowned for their fight following the initial strike. Whilst 6 lb line with a 10lb fluorocarbon leader will be adequate. The weight needs to be heavy enough to reach the bottom. The best rig when drifting is a two-hook snapper rig with the bottom hook closer to the sinker or a running sinker rig. Think like an ambush predator and work your casting arc appropriately.

You must be disciplined in covering large areas with lures or drift bait. As a general rule though they will take the bait or lure to the flathead, as they lay ambush relying on a short sharp dash so capture their prey. Fairy Bower, Manly, NSWįlathead do migrate up and downstream and along the coast.

Fishing planet setup for flathead