Open Year-Round

Northern Sand Flathead

Platycephalus arenarius

Also known as: Sand Flatty, Tropical Flathead

DPIRD Category Nearshore/Estuarine Finfish
Peak Season May-Oct
Difficulty Easy
Fight Rating ★★☆☆☆
Northern Sand Flathead

Regulations & Limits

NEARSHORE/ESTUARINE FINFISH

Limits by Bioregion

West Coast OPEN
Min Size 300mm
Individual Limit 8 fish
Mixed Limit Within 16 nearshore total
✓ Open year-round.
South Coast OPEN
Min Size 300mm
Individual Limit 8 fish
Mixed Limit Within 16 nearshore total
✓ Open year-round.
Gascoyne OPEN
Min Size 300mm
Individual Limit 8 fish
Mixed Limit Within 16 nearshore total
✓ Open year-round.
Pilbara N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley) OPEN
Min Size 300mm
Individual Limit 8 fish
Mixed Limit Within 16 nearshore total
✓ Open year-round.

Good to Know

  • Part of flathead group (Platycephalus spp.)

ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au

Size & Weight

Typical Size35 cm
Max Size50 cm
Typical Weight0.5 kg
Max Weight1.5 kg

Habitat

Where: Sandy flats, creek mouths, tidal channels

Depth: 2-20m

ID Features: Flattened head, sandy brown coloration, ambush predator

Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak Available Poor

Peak: May-Oct | Water Temp: 22 – 30°C

How to Catch Northern Sand Flathead

1

Soft plastics

Setup

  • Line: PE1-2 / 6-12kg
  • Leader: 15-25lb fluoro

Top Lures

  • Soft plastics 3-5inch
  • Vibes
  • Blades

Best Baits

  • Whitebait
  • Prawns
  • Small fish
2

Bait fishing

Setup

  • Line: PE0.8-1.5 / 4-8kg
  • Leader: 12-20lb fluoro

Best Baits

  • Fresh prawns
  • Whitebait
  • Fish strips

Eating Quality

★★★★☆ Good

Flesh: White, firm

Best cooked: Pan fried, beer battered, grilled

The Fight

★★☆☆☆ 2/5

Short bursts, not a strong fighter. Watch for crocs!

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