Best Baits and Lures for Flathead
Flathead are one of Australia's favourite estuary fish because they are accessible, aggressive and available in many systems. They often sit on sand edges, drop-offs, drains and weed margins waiting to ambush bait.
Natural baits
Good natural baits for flathead include prawns, pilchard strips, whitebait, squid strips and live poddy mullet where legal. Fresh bait usually outperforms old bait, especially in clear water.
Soft plastics
Soft plastics are extremely effective for flathead. Paddle tails, prawn imitations, jerk shads and curl tails can all work. Cast across sand flats, along channel edges and near drains, then work the lure close to the bottom with pauses.
Where to fish
The run-out tide is often productive because bait leaves shallow flats and drains into channels. Use Aaron's Bite Times to compare tide turns with wind and water temperature before choosing a session.