Species
Dusky Flathead
Platycephalus fuscus
Also known as black flathead
Tier 1Eating9/10light tackleNSWVICQLDSAWATASNT
208 waypoints35–60 cm (max 120 cm) typicalLast catch 2 mo ago
Regulations
NSW36 cm min · bag 5VIC27 cm min · bag 5QLD40 cm min · bag 5SA36 cm min · bag 12
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 36 cm min | 5 |
Closed: No retention >70cm (release big breeders) | ||
| VIC | 27 cm min | 5 |
| QLD | 40 cm min | 5 |
Closed: No retention >75cm | ||
| SA | 36 cm min | 12 |
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about dusky flathead
The east-coast estuary staple from southern QLD to eastern VIC. Ambushes prey on sand and weed edges — targeted with soft plastics, vibes, hardbodies and live baits, walked slowly along drop-offs and flats. Big breeding females (over 70cm) should be released to keep the fishery healthy.
Biology: Dusky Flathead size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Beach, Estuary, Inshore
- Typical size
- 35–60 cm (max 120 cm)
- Weight
- 0.5–3 kg (max 15 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–100 m
- Diet
- prawns, small fish, squid
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Across Australia (multiple species — dusky, sand, bar-tail, etc.)
How to target: Dusky Flathead angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- soft plastics (curl-tails, paddletails) hopped along sand-mud transitions on the run-out tide
- live poddy mullet on a long-shank hook drifted with current
- trolling small bibbed minnows in 1-3m over weed-edged flats
- blade vibes worked along channel edges in deeper estuaries
Best season: when to catch dusky flathead in Australia
- NSW
- Sep-May (estuaries)
- QLD
- year-round
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Safety & handling
Venomous spines (mild)Location: preopercular (cheek). Handle with caution — use gloves or a lip-grip.
Sharp preopercular spines either side of head — grip from the front or use lip grips.
Conservation
IUCN: Least Concern
Dusky flathead released over 70cm (NSW) / 75cm (QLD) — big females are spawning stock.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught dusky flathead
Where to catch: dusky flathead fishing spots in Australia
Tasmania77
- Ansons BayEstuary · TAS-41.08°
- Arthur River MouthRiver Mouth · TAS-41.05°
- Bathurst Harbour Port DaveyEstuary · TAS-43.35°
- BeechfordBeach · TAS-41.02°
- Bellerive BeachBeach · TAS-42.87°
- Betsey IslandReef · TAS-43.03°
- Bicheno - Governors IslandReef · TAS-41.87°
- Binalong BayBeach · TAS-41.25°
- Boat Harbour BeachBeach · TAS-40.95°
- Bowen Bridge DerwentWharf · TAS-42.79°
- Bridport JettyJetty · TAS-41.00°
- Browns River KingstonEstuary · TAS-42.98°
- Bruny Island - Adventure BayBay · TAS-43.35°
- Carlton BeachBeach · TAS-42.88°
- Cloudy BayBeach · TAS-43.45°
- Cockle CreekEstuary · TAS-43.58°
- Coles Bay JettyJetty · TAS-42.12°
- Cornelian BayShoreline · TAS-42.86°
- Cosy Corner Bay of FiresBeach · TAS-41.25°
- Crescent BayBeach · TAS-43.17°
- Denison BeachBeach · TAS-41.78°
- Eaglehawk NeckHeadland · TAS-43.02°
- Falmouth BeachBeach · TAS-41.51°
- Forth River MouthRiver Mouth · TAS-41.18°
- Garden IslandReef · TAS-43.17°
- Geilston BayShoreline · TAS-42.83°
- Greens BeachBeach · TAS-41.08°
- Hippolyte RocksReef · TAS-43.05°
- Inglis River at WynyardEstuary · TAS-40.99°
- Iron PotReef · TAS-43.04°
- Kettering PierJetty · TAS-43.13°
- Lady BarronWharf · TAS-40.21°
- Lewisham BeachBeach · TAS-42.84°
- Lindisfarne BayShoreline · TAS-42.85°
- Low HeadHeadland · TAS-41.06°
- Lune RiverEstuary · TAS-43.46°
- Macquarie HarbourEstuary · TAS-42.30°
- Maria Island - Mercury PassageReef · TAS-42.65°
- Marrawah CoastRock Platform · TAS-40.91°
- Mersey River DevonportRiver · TAS-41.18°
- Mickeys BayBay · TAS-43.44°
- Musselroe BayBeach · TAS-40.85°
- Naracoopa Jetty King IslandJetty · TAS-39.92°
- Ninepin Point BoundaryHeadland · TAS-43.28°
- North West BayBay · TAS-43.02°
- North West Bay RiverEstuary · TAS-43.04°
- Park Beach Dodges FerryBeach · TAS-42.86°
- Penguin JettyJetty · TAS-41.12°
- Pierson's PointHeadland · TAS-43.05°
- Pine River Mouth Flinders IslandRiver Mouth · TAS-40.16°
- Pipe Clay LagoonEstuary · TAS-42.97°
- Pirates BayBay · TAS-43.02°
- Port Arthur BayBay · TAS-43.15°
- Port CygnetEstuary · TAS-43.16°
- Port EsperanceBay · TAS-43.31°
- Quarantine BayBay · TAS-43.27°
- Risdon CoveEstuary · TAS-42.81°
- Roaring BeachBeach · TAS-43.09°
- Rocky CapeHeadland · TAS-40.86°
- Sandy Bay BeachBeach · TAS-42.90°
- Scamander River MouthRiver Mouth · TAS-41.46°
- Sisters BeachBeach · TAS-40.92°
- Skeleton BayBay · TAS-41.21°
- Sloping IslandReef · TAS-42.98°
- Snug River MouthRiver Mouth · TAS-43.08°
- South Arm BeachBeach · TAS-42.98°
- Spiky BeachBeach · TAS-42.46°
- Spring Beach OrfordBeach · TAS-42.59°
- St HelensBay · TAS-41.32°
- Strahan WharfWharf · TAS-42.15°
- Swansea JettyJetty · TAS-42.12°
- Tamar River - Beauty PointEstuary · TAS-41.16°
- Tomahawk BeachBeach · TAS-40.86°
- Triabunna WharfWharf · TAS-42.51°
- Trumpeter Bay BrunyShoreline · TAS-43.24°
- Verona SandsBeach · TAS-43.24°
- Whitemark Jetty Flinders IslandJetty · TAS-40.12°
Victoria45
- Altona PierJetty · VIC-37.87°
- Anderson InletEstuary · VIC-38.63°
- Aspendale BeachBeach · VIC-38.03°
- Bass River MouthRiver Mouth · VIC-38.49°
- Beacon 18Reef · VIC-37.95°
- Bemm RiverEstuary · VIC-37.75°
- Bouchier ChannelEstuary · VIC-38.45°
- Bunga ArmEstuary · VIC-37.92°
- Carrum Artificial ReefReef · VIC-38.08°
- Carrum PierJetty · VIC-38.08°
- Corinella JettyJetty · VIC-38.42°
- Edithvale BeachBeach · VIC-38.04°
- Frankston Artificial ReefReef · VIC-38.16°
- Frankston DeepReef · VIC-38.16°
- Half Moon ReefReef · VIC-37.95°
- Hopkins RiverEstuary · VIC-38.40°
- Lake TyersEstuary · VIC-37.87°
- Lake WellingtonDam · VIC-38.12°
- Lakes EntranceEstuary · VIC-37.88°
- Lang Lang BeachBeach · VIC-38.29°
- Loch SportShoreline · VIC-38.05°
- Mallacoota InletEstuary · VIC-37.56°
- MarloEstuary · VIC-37.80°
- McLennan StraitEstuary · VIC-38.10°
- MetungJetty · VIC-37.89°
- Middle SpitShoal · VIC-38.37°
- Mitchell River Silt JettiesEstuary · VIC-37.89°
- Mordialloc PierJetty · VIC-38.00°
- Mornington PierJetty · VIC-38.22°
- Mount Martha BeachBeach · VIC-38.26°
- Mud IslandsShoal · VIC-38.27°
- Patterson River MouthRiver Mouth · VIC-38.07°
- PaynesvilleShoreline · VIC-37.92°
- Pinnace ChannelBait Ground · VIC-38.26°
- Queenscliff HarbourJetty · VIC-38.27°
- Reef IslandShoal · VIC-38.39°
- Reeves ChannelEstuary · VIC-37.93°
- San Remo JettyJetty · VIC-38.52°
- Sandy PointBeach · VIC-38.80°
- Seaford PierJetty · VIC-38.11°
- Shallow InletEstuary · VIC-38.82°
- Tambo River - Swan ReachEstuary · VIC-37.75°
- The ConesReef · VIC-38.19°
- Torquay Back BeachBeach · VIC-38.35°
- Western Port - TankertonShoreline · VIC-38.43°
New South Wales39
- Botany Bay - KurnellEstuary · NSW-34.01°
- Botany Bay Artificial ReefReef · NSW-33.98°
- Camden Haven BarRiver Mouth · NSW-31.65°
- Cowan CreekEstuary · NSW-33.63°
- Crookhaven HeadsBreakwall · NSW-34.91°
- Crowdy HeadHeadland · NSW-31.84°
- Empire Bay JettyJetty · NSW-33.48°
- Eraring Power Station OutletShoreline · NSW-33.08°
- Evans Head BarRiver Mouth · NSW-29.12°
- Forster-Tuncurry BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-32.17°
- Greenwell PointWharf · NSW-34.92°
- Hardys Bay JettyJetty · NSW-33.51°
- Hastings River EntranceRiver Mouth · NSW-31.43°
- Hawkesbury Brooklyn Bridge PylonsWharf · NSW-33.55°
- Hawkesbury River - BrooklynRiver · NSW-33.55°
- Iluka BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-29.41°
- Karuah BridgeWharf · NSW-32.65°
- Lake Cathie EntranceEstuary · NSW-31.55°
- Lake MacquarieLagoon · NSW-33.08°
- Long Reef WideReef · NSW-33.74°
- Macleay River EntranceRiver Mouth · NSW-30.88°
- Manning River PolesRiver · NSW-31.91°
- Narooma - Wagonga InletEstuary · NSW-36.22°
- Newcastle HarbourEstuary · NSW-32.93°
- Norah HeadHeadland · NSW-33.28°
- Patonga WharfWharf · NSW-33.55°
- PittwaterEstuary · NSW-33.61°
- Port Macquarie BreakwaterBreakwall · NSW-31.43°
- South West Rocks - Trial BayBay · NSW-30.88°
- Stockton BridgeWharf · NSW-32.87°
- Stuarts Point, Macleay ArmEstuary · NSW-30.85°
- Swansea ChannelEstuary · NSW-33.09°
- Sydney Harbour - The SoundEstuary · NSW-33.83°
- The Banks (12 Mile Reef)Reef · NSW-33.85°
- The EntranceRiver Mouth · NSW-33.34°
- Tweed BarRiver Mouth · NSW-28.17°
- Ulladulla HarbourBreakwall · NSW-35.36°
- Vales Point Hot Water CanalShoreline · NSW-33.15°
- Yamba - Clarence River MouthRiver Mouth · NSW-29.43°
Queensland27
- Albert River at LuscombeRiver · QLD-27.79°
- Boyne River BridgeWharf · QLD-23.95°
- Bundaberg Port PromenadeShoreline · QLD-24.76°
- Burnett HeadsRiver Mouth · QLD-24.76°
- Burrum HeadsRiver Mouth · QLD-25.18°
- Cleveland PointHeadland · QLD-27.48°
- Coomera River Marine PrecinctRiver Mouth · QLD-27.87°
- Coomera River MouthRiver Mouth · QLD-27.85°
- Currumbin AlleyEstuary · QLD-28.14°
- Elliott HeadsRiver Mouth · QLD-24.93°
- Jumpinpin BarRiver Mouth · QLD-27.73°
- Logan River MouthRiver Mouth · QLD-27.72°
- Manly Harbour MoleBreakwall · QLD-27.45°
- Mon Repos BeachBeach · QLD-24.80°
- Myora ReefReef · QLD-27.48°
- Pancake CreekEstuary · QLD-24.03°
- Pimpama RiverEstuary · QLD-27.78°
- Rainbow Beach GuttersBeach · QLD-25.90°
- River Heads Boat RampBoat Ramp · QLD-25.38°
- Round Hill Creek (1770)Estuary · QLD-24.17°
- SS Maheno WreckWreck · QLD-25.27°
- Tallebudgera CreekEstuary · QLD-28.09°
- Tallebudgera Creek MouthRiver Mouth · QLD-28.10°
- Tannum Sands BeachBeach · QLD-23.94°
- Tin Can Bay MarinaBoat Ramp · QLD-25.90°
- Toogoom ForeshoreBeach · QLD-25.25°
- Wynnum JettyJetty · QLD-27.44°
Western Australia15
- Bunbury Cut (The Plug)Estuary · WA-33.33°
- Collie RiverShoreline · WA-33.37°
- Como PoolShoreline · WA-31.99°
- Faure SillShoal · WA-25.83°
- Floreat Beach GroyneBreakwall · WA-31.94°
- Fremantle South MoleBreakwall · WA-32.06°
- Henri Freycinet HarbourBay · WA-26.08°
- Leschenault EstuaryEstuary · WA-33.27°
- Maylands ForeshoreShoreline · WA-31.93°
- Mosman Bay (Swan River)Shoreline · WA-32.01°
- Murchison River Mouth (Chinaman's Beach)River Mouth · WA-27.71°
- Murray River (Yunderup)River Mouth · WA-32.58°
- Oyster HarbourEstuary · WA-34.98°
- Success Boat HarbourBoat Ramp · WA-32.11°
- Useless LoopBay · WA-26.13°
More information: dusky flathead references & sources
Saved.