We get a mixed bag of letters and emails with all sorts of questions and pictures here at River & Reef and www.Gofishaustralia.com.  The latest email we got from Nikki Waters a proud mum and fisherperson from Pottsville in NSW, Australia. Now normally I get a bit jealous when someone submits a fishing picture but this time I'm GREEN with envy.
Flathead are one of my favorite fish and I  spent much of my life fishing for them where I grew up. Later on catching big ones and letting them go was an obsession.
How do you think I feel when I'm sitting nearly 7500 Miles  thats 11950 klms from the nearest flathead fishing and I receive the picture below of Grace Waters,who by the way is 9 years old, holding on to this big flatty!!! Congratulations Grace that's one you should be very proud of and now you have kept one for eating you can feel fine letting the big ones go.

"Hi,
Recently my 9 year daughter Grace Waters caught this 70cm flathead of the bank at Sandon River , near Brooms Head, NSW on the Easter weekend.  I thought you would be interested in using this photo in your next addition…  He was extremely tasty and now my daughter is hooked on fishing!!!!
Kind Regards,
Nikki Waters"



Thanks for sending it to us Nikki!

For you guys in other countries the following describes the Dusky flathead. They are a sucker for a fly also and take lures just as readily.
The regulations for Dusky Flathead in NSW for those whom are interested, a limit of 10 , minimum size 36cm and only 1 over 70cm in possession.  (10 is way too many for anyone and I personally think it should 2.)


Distribution - Dusky flathead are found in estuaries and coastal bays, from Cairns in Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. They occur over sand, mud, gravel and seagrass and can inhabit estuarine waters up to the tidal limit. They are more commonly caught during the summer months.

Size - Maximum 15kg and a length of 1.5m.

Characteristics - Colour varies from sandy with brown spots and blotches to dark brown/black with white spots. They have a distinctive black spot on their caudal fins. Dark bars are often visible across the rear of the body. The preopercular spines on each side of the head are very sharp and should be avoided when handling the fish.

Confusing species - Distinguished from other flathead by the black spot at the caudal end of the tail.