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Beche De Mer
(Sea Cucumber - Trepang)

Commercial Fishing for Flathead:

There are more than 40 species of Flathead found in Australia. Most of these are found from southern QLD, south around the southern half of Australia to South West Western Australia.

Flathead are found in shallow estuaries and lakes and inhabit streams as far upstream as the tidal limits, but they often are found in freshwater. They are also found offshore on sandy or gravel bottoms and seagrass beds. Their range is from intertidal areas to depths of 10 metres. Sand Flathead have been found at depths of up to 100 metres.

Commercial fishing for Flathead is an important fishery in NSW with most capture being in late Autumn to early spring, and are mainly caught using gill nets and tunnel nets.

Danish seine vessels fish in a similar method to beach seine netters however the net is hauled back into boat and not on to the beach. The net is towed along the seabed and relies on the herding effect of the towing ropes to direct the fish into the wings and then the bag (bunt) to catch fish. The depth fished will determine the species caught. Naturally the length of the hauling rope determines the depth that the net will fish. The net is laid out in a pear shape, and the ends slowly winched into the boat as the boat moves forward. These two actions draw the net wings together and forward until the fish are concentrated the bag (bunt) of the net.

Lakes Entrance has the largest Danish Seine fishery in Australia with Flathead and School whiting being the main species targeted and caught.

 

Scientific Name	Platycephalus fuscus
Location	Australia Wide
Season	All year round
Size	Average 30cm - 60cm
Australian Species Code	37 296004
Taste, Texture	Mild flavour, tender to firm and flakes easily.

Estuary General Fishery in NSW
The Estuary General Fishery is a diverse multi-species multi-method fishery that may operate in 76 of the NSW's estuarine systems. It is the most diverse commercial fishery in NSW and comprises approximately 600 fishing businesses authorised to utilise 17 types of fishing gear. This fishery is a significant contributor to regional and state economies providing high quality seafood and bait to the community.

The Fishery includes all forms of commercial estuarine fishing (other than estuary prawn trawling which comprises the Estuary Prawn Trawl Fishery) in addition to the gathering of pipis and beachworms from ocean beaches. The most frequently used fishing methods are mesh and haul netting. Other methods used include trapping, hand-lining and hand-gathering.

On average, the 10 species that make up over 80% of landings by weight are sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) 40%, luderick (Girella tricuspidata) 8%, yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis) 8%, school prawn (Metapenaeus macleayi) 5%, blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus) 4%, dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) 4%, sand whiting (Sillago ciliata) 3%, pipi (Donax deltoides) 3%, mud crab (Scylla serrata) 3% and silver biddy (Gerres subfasciatus) 2%

Wild caught

Recovery Rate
Fillets (skin on, wings on): 60% from whole flathead (gut in), Fillets (skin on, wings off): 50% from whole flathead (gut in). Recovery rate varies with species.

See Also:
Flathead Photographs and Information

Catching Flathead | Bait for Flathead | Where to Catch Flathead

Cooking Flathead | Recipes Using Flathead Fish

Commercial Fishing for Flathead | Buy Sell Flathead