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| FlatheadSouthern Sand Flathead
Tiger Flathead
Southern Bluespotted Flathead
Common names: common flathead, slimy flathead, bay flathead.
Minimum size: 30cm.
Possession limit: 30. Possession limits apply everywhere, including in the home.
Sand flathead have a long and narrow body with broad, flattened head. They are pale brown or mottled colour above and white below with occasional reddish brown spots along sides. There is a distinctive black spot on the tail. Sand flathead have scales even though they are covered with a protective slime.
Sand flathead grow to at least 50cm in length and over 2kg in weight. On reaching this size they are around 16 years old. Sand flathead spawn around Tasmania from September through to February in coastal bays and inner continental shelf waters.
It is the most popular fish targeted by Tasmanian amateur fishermen due to its numbers and relative ease of capture. Sand flathead can be caught on a variety of baits and lures providing they are fished close to a sandy bottom.
Common name: king flathead.
Minimum size: 30cm.
Possession limit: 30. Possession limits apply everywhere, including in the home.
A similar species, the tiger flathead, has orange-brown spots on light brownish or pinkish grey body. This fish has larger canine teeth than the sand flathead.
Tiger flathead are good eating and are generally caught by fishing over a sandy bottom. They attain at least 65cm in length and a maximum age of about 17 years.
They are generally found both inshore and on the continental shelf between 0 and 400m. Spawning occurs on the continental shelf between December and February.
Care is needed in removing hooks from this species as its sharp teeth can inflict a painful bite that can easily break the skin.
Common names: Yank flathead, Castelnau's flathead, deepwater flathead, southern flathead, bluespot flathead.
Minimum size: 30cm.
Possession limit: 30. Possession limits apply everywhere, including in the home.
The southern bluespotted flathead has a lighter sandy brown body with scattered small blue to white spots intermingled with dark blotches. The tail fin has dark spots surrounded by white. This species of flathead can grow up to 90 centimetres and weigh up to 8 kilograms.
The southern bluespotted flathead is found around the north coast of Tasmania in waters up to 30 metres deep, usually on sandy bottom adjacent to seagrass beds.
All flatheads have very sharp spines on the back of their gill cover and on their dorsal fins that are capable of inflicting deep wounds to the unwary fisher. The spines, covered with mucous, can cause a localised reaction and sometimes intense pain. Treatment for such reactions include washing with mildly acidic fluids, such as vinegar, or application of a topical anaesthetic cream.
Download the following flathead fact sheets:
How to Increase the Survival of Released Flathead
Meet the Flatheads
Fish illustrations by Peter Gouldthorpe
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