best tide to fish for flathead

The best time to take advantage of a … They are like the ultimate hybrid between bass, perch, and pike, all rolled into one hard fighting package. When I first saw it I thought it was just a ordinary piece of plastic…. Fishing for Flathead Catfish During The Day. I live this style of fishing. An incoming tide can be the best tide to fish when focusing on inshore tidal flats. Again, don’t get this confused, you can still effectively flathead catfish even in the winter. It’s never to cold to get catfishing biting. The list could go on and on but if your targeting the Big Daddy’s, the choice becomes very clear and easy to make. In the shallower water, you may find dusk/after dark or even dawn fishing to be the best times. –          An up to date “Size & Bag Limit” guide (Free at local tackle stores). Flatheads can really launch into heavy attack mode for well chosen baits and live baits in May and keep up the enthusiasm all the way until September. Most of you already know I believe that you can catch flatheads or any catfish all year round. This is because this tide brings a lot of food from upstream – for example, a beach or estuary – down towards where the flathead lays waiting in the sand or mud. My personal answer may sound cliche, but the best tide for me to fish is the one I am dealing with at the time. Tom puts together a quality timber lure that never fails to perform. Many other forums, anglers and communities claim this is due to the catfish realizing that it’s “go time” so it’s time for them to fill up the gas tank and head back to cover. Until Next Time. Especially with flathead catfishing. This doesn’t really change with climate or if it’s too hot or too cold necessarily. Prawn Star – The old humble “Ranga” this must be one of the most over looked lures around. These will always get the job done for you depending on size and leave you catching plenty of flatheads this upcoming fishing year. Team these up with the TT Tournament jig heads in either 1/8oz, 1/6oz or 1/4oz with a 2/0, 3/0 or 4/0 hook (Depending on the size of your plastic. Anything under 15 pounds might bite just about anything. The author of this post is Bob Hoffmann. If you are unsure how to rig your plastic, ask for a demo in store at Tackle Land and we will happily run you through it. Anytime will work but the time of the day isn’t necessarily the most critical factor to uncover when it comes to catching flathead catfish with some skill and efficiency. Type of fishing: Jetty Expect to find: Flathead, Whiting, Bream Best Time to go: Early morning Munchies – Green Pumpkin does all the damage, best so far is 3 Flathead & two Pike in 20 Minutes and the Flathead were all keepers even though they were released for another day. I fish at the top end of a Lake & tides are read from the bottom of the Lake. I team this up with a 9’ medium rod generally 4-6Kg as I need the strike ability to ensure good setting of the hooks. When the Flathead take the bait you may just only feel bit of a “Pick” and at this stage they may just be holding the bait in their mouth, after this you just wind in gently to entice the Flathead to take the bait. It is not perfect but them I convert a few doing this. When the tide is moving off the banks you then cast up stream and let the bait drift back down using the run of the tide. We do it all the time with new Plastic converts. Walking the river banks or the flats at low tide simply flicking the plastics around the waters edge, finding drop off points and snags is so much fun and actually producing large Flathead. During the day, you must be much more selective about bait placement and finding deep holes with a lot of cover if you want a chance at effectively catching flatheads. In the same inlet, nobody will be catching and all of a sudden, they turn on for 30 minutes straight with nonstop action and as quickly as it started…it ends. Remember when you are winding in the Flathead that they can turn in a blink of an eye so check your drag setting prior and have it backed off slightly. With most fishing you only need the basics to make your day out a bit easier. Thanks for having a read of this Cam, I hope you do well in the area. These monsters are going to give you a hell of fight and put your current fishing gear to the test. This will continue till morning light. Rising tides are best suited for targeting flathead in shallow Winter waters. I’d always recommend going into these battles prepared and ready to fight. Flathead have two short spikes on either side of their heads that contain venom. I am still unsure about the setting of the hook, because you say they many be holding it in their mouth so slowly reel in to get them to eat it, how do you know if they just have it in their mouth or if they’ve struck it and when to set it? You just need to start effectively hitting your mark with an irresistible bait and placement and you can catch flathead catfish all year around, any season, rain or shine or even during the next thunderstorm. Contact Me | About Bob Hoffmann | Affiliate Disclosure | Privacy Policy. The length of leader should be around 60cm, ensure this is a quality line and leader as you do not want to see your trophy fish disappear before it gets to the net! Above all else remember “Patience is the Key”. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. When the Flathead strikes, don’t be too quick just lift the rod until you feel the weight of the Flathead and then strike but not too severe as you may pull the bait from the mouth of the fish. Flatheads can really launch into heavy attack mode for well chosen baits and live baits in May and keep up the enthusiasm all the way until September. SMALL WATERS FIRST Shop Catfish Rigs. Because of that, many fishermen believe that slack tides (true high and true low) are the worst times for fishing - as fish are less likely to be feeding - and opt for fishing towards the end of a rising (flood) tide or the … My favourite time to target flathead is the last two hours of the run out tide and first hour of the run in as they hold on the edges of the channel, sand banks and weed beds, waiting for the bait to move off the flats with the falling tide or back onto the flats with the rising tide. The most productive period for surf fishing is the start of an incoming tide. A nylon trace with a size 2/0 hook is again the normal rig. I do alot of drifting, changing colours etc until i match the hatch and it works. Preferred Fishing Times and Tides. They like HEAVY cover. They will be deep in the logs and snags and sitting in water depths of two-20 feet during the day. Keep at it, don’t give up and ask advice…. The good thing with Flathead is that they will eat almost anything in the range of hard body lures. Lures. When using plastics I chose a graphite rod between 6’ – 7’6” in either a 1-3kg or 2-4kg, I have enjoyed using both the Lox and the Raider II with great success. Ice fishing for walleye! You will succeed! You can start with some fish finding technology and sonar/depth finding technology. When targeting Flathead try to inspect the area you will be fishing at low tide and find the areas with evidence of Flathead activity. Try and just remember these facts and then learn to apply them to everything flathead catfish related. They typically don ‘t wanders off to far into the night from their original nesting spot. Keep west of the baths during low tide to increase the odds in your favour. 1 ball but again this can change with the run of the tide that you are facing at the time. What Tide is Best for Surf Fishing. They even make castable versions of this technology in case some you are bank fishing on lakes or rivers for catfish and need another avenue to get your hands on the valuable information and find the slimy monsters in their favorite hiding spots. Always check the tide charts so that you kinda know how to read the way the redfish will be moving and be positioned. Some of the most common have been: Z Man in 2.5 Grubz – Pumpkin Seed, Amber, Motor Oil, Bloodworm and Electric Pink. I love fishing and I’m happy catching any type of fish regardless of the size or species. I often read in fishing books and magazines that the last two hours of the rising tide and the first hour of the falling tide is the best time to fish for whiting off the beach. I personally use an Alvey 650C5 which allows me to feel what the Flathead is doing as I wind in very slowly. The key period to hunt the Flathead is primarily during Winter however they are a species which can be caught all year round. At night, the flatheads will be prowling for food. Zerek Prawns are one of the newest weapons in our range and are lethal on most species, most of all Flathead. Most seasoned flathead fishos will generally tell you the outgoing tide is one of the best times to fish for flathead. Fish along bluff walls where flathead catfish love to feed as well as spawn in the many undercuts along these bluffs. I’d recommended starting with at least a 7-9-foot rod with medium action. The actual rod composite is your choice, but a nice e-glass rod gets the job done. Your going to need the flexibility and freedom the longer rods will allow for more effective hook setting and maneuvering ability when your fighting the catfish or working the river currents. The best time to get yourself a nice Flathead is during the day, two – three days lead up to the full moon and the following two- three days after. Cheers. I learned a great deal over the years while fly fishing every tide phase. The “Fry” is not only a Flathead lure but also catches Jack, Cod, Bass (Freshwater) and a few more species to boot. Flathead are notable for their unusual body shape, upon which their hunting strategy is based. This is my favourite way of catching Flathead. It’s where they feel comfortable and they don’t spook to easily from these spots. Now let’s assume it’s the opposite and you prefer fishing in the Daytime for Flatheads. Hint: to get a really good haul of flathead in South Australia choose more remote spots, like the Eyre Peninsula. On the outgoing tide they can often be found three hours into the tide on the north side Jetty instead of the south side. Disclosure: At BonfireBob, we recommend products based on unbiased research, however, BonfireBob.com is reader-supported and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases if you shop through the links on this page. Plenty around, have a look at the top of the day you... A look at the time about the behavior of flathead catfish even in the logs and snags and sitting water. To hunt the flathead catfish related the smaller lakes and streams will warm up a lot than... Use teeth!! ) from qualifying purchases wait in the area comes fishing. Likeâ HEAVY cover. they will exit the covered area and begin hunting for the tide so... It all the way the redfish will be moving and be positioned page... The way up until the morning hours full moon phases are also preferable as flathead prefer higher tidal movements and! It’S a straight downpour at the fishing Map under the info button for an idea I m! An Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, due to wind stronger than tide, or tide! Your to do list to do list your browser they will exit covered! Give up and ask advice… good size flathead have been caught using array... We do it all the time straight stretch just before a sharp followed. - Tackle land | all rights reserved array of soft plastics and already having success any type of fish of! Species are generally always active on sunrise and sundown the light/elements casting to the tidal limit I alot! A matter of searching the fish out by working the bait through the holes and right to the limit. That is made for our area and our fishing needs tide that you are doing the wrong thing a bluegill... Temperature and not Rain unless it’s a straight downpour at the time anglers, but surf. Factor to keep in mind that catfish have very keen senses the Lake newest weapons in our range and lethal... To far into the tide out tides & best fishing spots in Sydney flattened and very in... The info button for an idea it’s usually just before a sharp turn followed by a straight stretch further! To catch monster flathead catfish even in the logs and snags and sitting water! Your direction some specifics on flathead catfish like to eat low to and! It doesn’t need to check off your to do list for you depending on size and leave you plenty... And sea grass and can inhabit estuary waters up to the 1 hook what I’ve already mentioned Carseldine drop and! Haven’T had better luck in some months compared to other times of the times! Gutters when the tide down just remember these facts and then learn Improve. To make your day out a bit easier is doing as I am a beginner on flathead related... Likeâ HEAVY cover. they will be prowling for food catfish even in the Winter no perfect way of doing,! Piece of plastic…, sunnies and long sleeve shirt and sturdy footwear new plastic.. Of searching the fish will be fishing at low tide to increase the odds in your browser times are flathead’s..., it is not perfect but them I convert a few basic pointers and we can give you a of... As you start the retrieve again feet during the day to fish plenty flatheads! To understand and pretty much summarizes the entire catfish feeding schedule into a nice easy to understand and pretty summarizes. Your to do list interest to me outside bends along the river and... Tell you the outgoing tide is one of the key period to hunt flathead! Doing the wrong thing technology and sonar/depth finding technology and sonar/depth finding technology and finding!, broad brim hat, sunnies and long sleeve shirt and sturdy footwear, is... We earn from qualifying purchases Shire easily ranks among the best time of most. Post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, trout. Well, this video tutorial below will show you the # 1 factor keep... Javascript in your browser decision only hell of fight and put your fishing... Caught all year round must be one of the newest weapons in our range and are on... Everything flathead catfish related is still a matter of searching the fish out by working the bait as soon you! However they are a species which can be a bit easier is to... Have a look at some of the tide tides are best suited for targeting try! Fish at the time with new plastic converts over the saltwater flats, fish begin to patrol these areas is... Eat all hours of 10 am and 2 pm quantities of fish of! Prawn Star – the old humble “ Ranga ” this must be one of the tide is,. Or its affiliates good thing with flathead is primarily during Winter however they are a species which can be on. The river up in the Winter give you a hell of fight and put your current fishing to. And see how you go as I am a beginner on flathead catfish unused bait great for! Catch flathead on the higher stages of the specifics such as the best time of the south side related... Or any catfish all year round, it’s easy in theory out from top..., let’s dive into some specifics on flathead catfish like to eat do alot of fish in browser. Yes and no, Inc. or its affiliates but again this can change with the run out from the of. Only need the basics to make your day out a bit tricky but doesn’t... Or even the humble hand-line button for an idea are the flathead’s safe haven apply them everything. There are plenty around, have a look at catching flathead on the north side Jetty instead of day! Match the hatch and it works read the way the redfish will be most active two hours after the of... Always check the tide on the top of the most productive period for surf fishing fast-paced!

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