29/10/2026
FLATHEAD BREEDING – WHY THE BIG GIRLS HAVE COMPANY!
Ever caught several smaller flathead from the same patch of water and wondered if a big girl might be nearby?
There could be a scientific reason behind it!
Today we’re looking at dusky flathead, one of Australia’s favourite estuary species, and how their breeding behaviour can help us better understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
WHY DO THE LITTLE BOYS FOLLOW THE BIG GIRLS?
During breeding season, smaller male dusky flathead can gather around a much larger female.
These are called spawning aggregations.
The males aren’t there to protect her. They’re waiting for an opportunity to fertilise her eggs.
But remember:
● Not every small flathead is a male.
● There’s no set number of males around a female.
● Catching several smaller fish doesn’t guarantee a big female is nearby.
WHERE DO THEY BREED?
As spawning season approaches, mature dusky flathead can concentrate around:
● Lower estuaries
● River mouths
● Estuary entrances
● Nearby coastal waters
These areas can provide suitable conditions for spawning and the movement of eggs and larvae.
Not every flathead follows the same migration pattern. Some remain within their river system, while others travel between estuaries.
WHEN IS BREEDING SEASON?
Research in NSW has found:
● Females: Mainly November to March.
● Males: September to March.
Timing can vary depending on location and environmental conditions.
HOW DO FLATHEAD BREED?
Dusky flathead are broadcast spawners.
Females release eggs into the water, where males fertilise them externally.
A female can spawn multiple times throughout a breeding season.
The eggs and larvae drift with currents, potentially helping replenish flathead populations in other estuaries.
WHY ARE THE BIG GIRLS SO IMPORTANT?
Female dusky flathead grow considerably larger than males.
An 80 cm female can potentially produce more than TWO MILLION eggs across a spawning season!
An 80 cm dusky flathead may also be approximately 10 to 12 years old, although age varies between individual fish and populations.
Like all sea creatures it’s a high mortality rate Not every egg survives, our large breeding females make an important contribution to future generations.
And here’s something worth knowing!
Dusky flathead DO NOT start life as males and change into females.
Females naturally grow larger than males. It’s not a s*x change like in many other fish species!
AUSWIF TIPS & TRICKS – LET’S GO CATCH A FLATHEAD!
Now we understand a little more about their breeding behaviour, let’s look at how to find them and what techniques work.
1. LEARN WHERE FLATHEAD FEED
Flathead are ambush predators. They often lie on or partially buried in the bottom, waiting for food to pass.
Look for:
● Sandbank edges dropping into deeper water.
● Drains emptying off shallow flats.
● Channel junctions and small gutters.
● Sandy patches beside w**d beds.
TIP: they don’t always need deep water! Even a small change in depth can create a productive feeding area.
2. UNDERSTAND YOUR TIDES
A run out tide is a great starting point.
As water drains from the flats, baitfish and prawns can be funnelled into gutters and channels.
Flathead take advantage of these feeding opportunities.
TIP: Follow the retreating water. Start around shallow drains and work towards deeper gutters as the tide drops.
Different locations can fish better at different stages of the tide.
Learn your waterway
3. KEEP YOUR SOFT PLASTICS SIMPLE
You don’t need expensive gear to get started!
A good beginner setup:
● 80–100 mm paddle-tail soft plastic. Have a look through you discount bins flathead aren’t fussy
● Jighead heavy 3/4 to 1/2 ounce is my go to… upgrade weight as the tide gets stronger to maintain contact with the bottom
● Around 20lb abrasion-resistant leader when starting out. They have teeth like a grater
It’s very important to
Rig your plastic straight so it swims naturally.
TIP: If you can’t feel your lure touching the bottom, try a slightly heavier jighead. Check your leader regularly because flathead have abrasive teeth.
🎣 4. HOP, PAUSE AND LET IT SINK
One of the easiest techniques to learn!
1. Cast your lure out.
2. Let it sink to the bottom.
3. Wind up the slack.
4. Give your rod one or two short lifts.
5. Allow the lure to sink back down.
6. Pause and repeat.
Flathead often strike as the lure drops.
TIP: Keep your lure working close to the bottom. If hopping isn’t producing bites, try a slow roll or gentle drag.
5. COVER GROUND, THEN SLOW DOWN
Don’t keep casting into the same spot if nothing is happening.
Fan your casts across different angles and depths.
Move along the bank or drift until you locate fish.
Once you catch one, work that area more thoroughly.
TIP: Several flathead may use the same productive feeding area. But remember, catching smaller fish doesn’t automatically mean there’s a large breeding female nearby.
6. DON’T RUSH THE LANDING
Flathead are famous for their headshakes!
Avoid lifting their heads sharply out of the water while they’re still on the line.
Maintain steady pressure and guide them towards your landing net.
TIP: Use a suitable landing net, support the fish’s body and avoid lifting especially large flathead by the jaw alone.
LET’S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER – READING THE WATER
Here’s a simple plan for your next flathead session.
Find a sandflat with a nearby drain or channel edge.
Start around the runout tide.
Work an 80–100 mm soft plastic with at least ½ ounce jig head close to the bottom. The fish are attracted to the disturbance on the sand.
Cover ground until you find fish, then pay attention to the depth, structure and water movement where you’re getting bites.
And most importantly, start recognising those environmental cues.
● Where is the bait moving?
● Which way is the water flowing?
● Where are the depth changes?
● What stage is the tide?
● Are fish gathering to feed or potentially breed?
These observations are how we begin to understand what’s happening beneath the surface.
FISHING WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT
During breeding season, remember that large female dusky flathead are important to future fish populations.
Handle fish carefully, minimise time out of the water, follow your state’s size and bag limits, and always releasing large breeding females.
NEVER hold a flathead by the jaw Always support her body.
The more we understand about how our fish reproduce, feed and move, the better decisions we can make on the water.
Australian Women in Fishing – Learning to read the water, understanding our fish and protecting future generations.
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