[Trailer] Episode 603: Understanding Flathead With Greg Vinall

Facts About Flathead

• Flathead are a popular fish species in Australia, with the dusky flathead being the most common and largest species. Other flathead species include sand flathead, tiger flathead, blue-spotted flathead, yellowfin flathead, rock flathead, bar tailed flathead, and northern sand flathead. Techniques for catching flathead are mostly similar across different species.
• Their unique dorso-ventrally flattened body shape allows them to come into very shallow waters, though a number of species prefer deep water. Their upward-oriented tail and elongated coffin-shaped bodies give flathead fast burst speed over short distances for ambushing prey.
• Flathead can change their colour and markings to blend in with their surroundings and be more camouflaged. This ability allows them to ambush prey effectively and survive in different environments.
• They are not fussy eaters and but mostly prefer items such as prawns and small fish. Their body shape allows them to hunt in shallow waters where bait go to avoid most other predators.
• In flowing water the flathead’s body shape helps it to stay in position without expending energy while it waits to ambush prey. It can hunker down close to the bottom where the water flow is slower, plus water flowing over the flathead tends to push it to the bottom.
• Studies have shown that flathead have a couple of different photoreceptor cells in their retina that are receptive to particular wavelengths of blue, greens, and yellows. They do not have photoreceptors to pick up red wavelengths, making red, orange and pink colours dubious for them.
• For information on UV vision, olfactory senses, vibration detection, plus how to use all of this info to improve your flathead fishing, please consider joining Team Doc Lures for the members version of today’s episode.