Species
Sand Flathead
Platycephalus bassensis
Also known as southern sand flathead · bay flathead · common flathead
Tier 1Eating9/10light tackleNSWVICSATAS
1 waypoint~25–40 cm typicalLast catch 3 days ago
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Recently caught
3 days ago
Active · catches logged in the last 14 days
Where to catch
Range & spots
Overview: about sand flathead
Bread-and-butter southern flathead of VIC, TAS and SA bays — the cornerstone of Port Phillip Bay rec catches. Drifted with paternoster rigs and pilchard or squid strip over sand bottoms in 5-30 m. Smaller than dusky but abundant; tight bag and slot rules apply in some states.
Biology: Sand Flathead size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Bay, Inshore
- Typical size
- 25–40 cm (max 50 cm)
- Weight
- 0.3–1.2 kg
- Depth range
- 2–60 m
- Diet
- small fish, crustaceans, squid
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Southern Australia
How to target: Sand Flathead angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- paternoster rigs with pilchard or squid drifted over sand
- soft plastics on 1/4 oz jigheads
- berley trail on the drift
Best season: when to catch sand flathead in Australia
- VIC
- Oct-May
- TAS
- Dec-Apr
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Where to catch: sand flathead fishing spots in Australia
One mapped fishing location for sand flathead across Australia, covering land-based fishing, beach fishing and surf fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.