Concentrations of the flathead can be located in sandy areas between areas of reef and their location changes throughout the day and from day to day. Many types of rig have been trailed and used to catch flathead but the most successful are the drifting rigs with the sinker at the bottom and the hooks on traces further up the line. These traces are made by the use of a loop of about 20 centimetres (8 inches) and a blood dropper knot. The loop stands out from the main line. The loop is kept short to reduce the possibility of it twisting and tangling around the main line. Wire traces have been marketed for this purpose however the flathead are shy to take a bait when attached to a wire trace.

The depth of the water and the speed of the current and drift determine sinker size. It is necessary for the sinker to reach the bottom fast and stay there as the boat drifts along. Presentation is also important and when using prawn, attaching the whole thing complete with the shell prevents its destruction by pickers and maintains its appearance for longer.

Fish bait is cut into strips about 7 centimetres long and 2 centimetres wide and must be fresh. The two best methods of attaching a fish bait is to either thread the bait onto the hook, exposing the barb at the end or to just push the hook through the fish once. The second method allows the fish to float and move in the current and presents as a much more attractive bait than the first method which is somewhat rigid. Some of the best fish baits are strips of yellowtail, mackerel, tailor and flathead.

Fishing for flathead from beaches is different from fishing for bream and tailor. The letter are more inclined to be in schools whereas the flathead is usually a loner and bags of half a dozen are rare. The majority of flathead caught are sand flatheads and they bite all day, not going off the bite in the middle of the day like many other species which are best caught at dawn and dusk.

A flathead will move little during the day and it is always best for the angler to move to different locations along the sandy spit than to wait for the fish to come to him. A favourite hangout for the flathead is in the gutters or channels which occur at the end of a sandbar where the flathead will sit and wait for other fish to drift in from the sandbar with the ebb and flow of the waves. Other fish can also be located there.

The best-known bait for flathead, particularly along the northern half of the east coast of Australia, is the white pilchard. It is best presented on a 2 hook gang with a short trace. The white pilchard is a firm bait, even after freezing and will withstand the rigors of numerous casts without disintegrating off the hook. Sinker size is not important so long as it is heavy enough to reach the outer rim of the channel or gutter.

Fishing for flathead with artificial lures is an entirely different style than that used for other species. As the flathead sits on the bottom and rarely moves, the lure must pass practically in front of the flathead’s nose to be noticed. Light gear with lures is best and the trick is to cast and allow the lure to sink to the bottom. The lure is then retrieved with a jerky rod action, allowing the lure to skip along the bottom and disturb the sand, giving an appearance as a bait fish and attracting the attention of the flathead. Too slow a speed and the action of a fish is not emulated, too fast and the flathead will ignore it.

The correct spinning tackle should be a light spinning road about 2 metres long with a small threadline reel with line about 3-5 kilogram (6 - 11 lbs) breaking strain. The lure should be any that has a good action with a slow retrieval speed. The lure must also represent a source of food popular with the flathead in a given area. Mostly that would mean a lure similar to a pilchard, or anchovy, with a long slender body. Silver is more than likely the best colour but other colours, even though not fish-like in appearance to the human eye, have been known to work, such as yellow.

Flathead must be handled with care. They have 2 sharp and poisonous spines at each side of the head and although the venom is not fatal, it is enough to cause a very nasty and infected wound. A quick flap of the flathead’s head and those spines can be driven into the soft flesh of an angler’s hand before they realize it. A good method is to grasp the fish firmly with an old rag or gloved hand and turn the fish over. The thumb and forefinger of the other hand can then be thrust into the gill flaps. The poisonous barbs are then out of harms way and the fish can be de-hooked.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Fishing

It’s true.

You too can now enjoy the same quality meals you enjoy in your home kitchen in your campfire kitchen with little fuss.

Meals around the campfire are just as much the centre of camping life as meals around the kitchen bench at home.

It’s possible to unleash the gourmet campfire chef within you when you know how to make your campfire work for you!

For an experienced outdoorsman, the key to good outdoor cooking is both simplicity and creativity. Outdoor cooking need not employ the techniques of a high-paid chef, or even require the latest array of advanced cooking tools. It’s all about a case of good preparation, good thinking, and a whole lot of luck.

Here are some simple campfire cooking skills that will help you create mouthwatering dishes around the campfire in minutes that are not only delicious but turn out just the way they would if you were at home.

It is best to start off with a low heat fire and if the food isn’t cooking quickly enough increase coals.

Practice with a friend’s camp oven before you go out and buy one for yourself.

There are basically two kinds of fires - a trench fire or the traditional, old-fashioned above ground fire. A trench fire is a pit dug into the ground about 30 x 45 cm deep.

Look for ground that’s free from rocks as this is easier to dig. If the ground should become loose and the sides fall into the hole, place rocks around the top to support your barbeque plate and grate.

Building a below level fire will be safer for you in windy conditions.

A below level fire is also easier to cook with in bad weather conditions.

A trench helps retain the heat if you are forced to use poor quality wood.

If you use good quality dry wood in the morning you will normally wake up to hot coals under the ashes.

Remember it takes time to build good coals. Don’t expect to be able to cook a delicious feast 10 minutes after lighting your fire.

Use the cooler end of the trench fire for cooking cakes, dampers and scones.

Remember to preheat your oven over the flames and level out the ash and coals at the cooler end and place your oven down on those coals.

It’s a good idea to check the food you’re cooking every five to ten minutes and to add or remove coals in accordance with how your foods are cooking.

Lift your dutch ovens and other cooking utensils off the fire by using a thick rag and a piece of wire with a hook on one end.

Carry strike anywhere matches as well as a butane lighter and candle.

Keep matches in a plastic jar with cotton wadding on top.

Cotton balls dipped in Vaseline make great fire starters.

You should be able to hold your hands over the coals about 60 centimetres away if your oven is moderately hot. It will be hot but it should be bearable.

Your fire is ready when the flames have subsided and coals are glowing.

Cooking in the outdoors may seem hard when you’re miles away from the comforts of your own kitchen, market, or grocery store. But this is one experience that’s worth a try. So let nature bring out the best cook in you. Be prepared, be simple, be creative - whatever suits your fancy. But, don’t forget the most important part - get your family involved in the process and have as much fun outdoor cooking as you possibly can.

After all, these are among the special ingredients of a great camping cooking experience that truly lasts a lifetime.

Copyright 2006 Karin Manning

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to a tropical country? Do you love to fish? Then start planning a trip to the Amazon to catch peacock bass. Sure, peacock bass can be caught off the coast of Florida, but the real adventure is in the jungles of South America. There are many companies that offer peacock bass fishing charters, so the only work you have to do is choose which charter you would like to take!

If you are up for a challenge and a real prize, the peacock bass is the fish you want to catch. This bass is a fighter, so be prepared for a battle. If you win, you will have a great prize: a beautiful fish to photograph or to keep and mount on your wall. The peacock bass, which comes in varieties such as butterfly, black barred, royal peacock, and speckled, grows to be a huge fish, with the world record catch weighing in at twenty-seven pounds!

When fishing in the Amazon, you will be amazed at all the wildlife you will see around you. The country is beautiful, but wild, so be sure to think of your safety at all times. Listen to any advice your guide gives you, and don’t risk injuring yourself just to catch a fish or get a photograph.

Speaking of photographs, don’t forget to bring your camera and lots of film; bring a video camera if you have one, too. If you come well prepared, you will be sure to have lots of photos and video to show your friends and family once you are back home. This will be the trip of a lifetime and you don’t want to forget any details.

In case you are thinking, “What if I go all that way and don’t catch anything?” peacock bass are known to be territorial. This makes it easy for fishermen and guides, because once a good fishing spot is found, you can pretty much guarantee that there will always be peacock bass in that spot.

The peacock bass is a fisherman’s dream: easy to locate, a challenge to land, and a showy trophy to bring home. Start dreaming about catching one for yourself!

For information on peacock bass, visit http://fishing.activitiessite.com/