Flathead make a tasty meal, but being a bit different from other fish they present a bit of a challenge for newbie filleters.
Keep in mind that they have sharp spines on the gill covers, and dorsal spikes, and sharp teeth too.
Here’s are two good ways to fillet them.
How to fillet flathead – Method 1
Put the fish on its back and cut across the body through the belly flap behind the pelvic fins.
Put the knife in the anus and cut lengthwise up to the first cut behind the pelvic fins.
Remove innards.
With the fish on its back cut through the fish each side of the backbone.
Put the flathead on its side and cut through along each side to the backbone.
Put the fish on its belly and cut through the back skin.
Separate the fillets from the backbone.
Run the knife down each side of the rib cage bones to separate the fillets from the ribs.
Skin part of the tail end of the fillet by running the knife between the skin and flesh with the skin-side down and the knife angled to the ground, then use the small flap of skin to pull the skin off the flesh.
How to fillet flathead – Method 2 (simpler)
Put the fish on its side and cut into the thick end of the fillet just behind the pelvic fins.
With the knife still in the fish, angle the knife to the back of the fish and proceed to cut the fillet along the backbone down almost to the tail, but leave the skin attached to the tail.
Pull the attached fillet away from the fish and start skinning the tail end of the fillet by running the knife between the skin and flesh with the skin-side down and the knife angled to the ground.
Once about 3cm of skin is off, grab the fillet and skin and carefully tear the skin off the flesh, this will take the bones with it and leave you with a fillet.
Fish filleting knives and sharpeners
A small, sharp filleting knife makes life easier when cleaning small fish. See eBay listing here.
A longer filleting knife is helpful when skinning large fish. For skinning purposes, the knife need not be ultra sharp as a sharp knife may cut through the skin while separating it from the fillet, which is undesirable. See eBay listing here.
Blunt knives are near useless, so a good sharpening stone is essential equipment. See eBay listing here.
A professional-quality knife sharpener makes it easy to keep all your knives sharp. Use powered sharpeners with care to avoid shortening the life of your knives. See eBay listing here.
How to skin fish
To skin a fillet, place it skin-side down on a flat surface.
Run a long flexible filleting knife flat from the tail end, cutting with the knife blade angled slightly down towards the skin.
As mentioned earlier, a knife that is not too sharp is best suited for this job, as it won't easily cut through the skin, but it will separate the flesh from the skin.
Skilled use of a sharp knife will work however.
Fish with tough skins such as leatherjackets may be skinned by simply tearing the skin off.
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Some external videos showing how to fillet flathead are featured below.
NOTE: Special snapper rules apply in South Australia – more info here.
Port Victoria is a popular fishing holiday destination on the west side of South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, about 190km from Adelaide.
The town has a sheltered all-tide boat ramp and a long L-shaped jetty.
Wardang Island lies 10km offshore, providing relatively protected waters for boaters to fish.
Outside the island the seas are more exposed and suitable only for larger boats.
The town jetty produces squid, snook, gar, chow, zebra fish and tommy ruffs. The best fishing is at night.
Summer snook are a popular jetty target, using lures or bait under the lights.
Boaters find plenty of snapper, spotted whiting and blue swimmer crabs in the shallow grounds around the island.
Snapper are best in summer and whiting best in winter.
Fishing within the bay usually provides enough fish to keep boaters happy, but note the bay’s large sanctuary zone.
Sweep, gar, tommy ruffs, snook, red mullet, slimy mackerel and chow are caught on the shallow offshore grounds.
Berley works well from a boat, but keep in mind that big white sharks are regularly seen in this area.
The waters in this region are shallow and often very clear, so it pays to fish with the lightest possible tackle.
Flounder are common in the bay and flounder spearing is a popular pastime.
Wauraltee Beach to the south of Port Victoria has coastal camping by 4WD track.
The low-energy shallow beaches in this region produce mainly flathead, flounder, whiting, salmon trout and yelloweye mullet.
Spotted whiting are occasionally caught from the beach where the seagrass beds come closest to the beach, but yellowfin and silver whiting are the usual catch.
Fish the beaches at high tide.
To the north, Balgowan has an exposed boat ramp.
Read about Yorke Peninsula’s other fishing spots here.
The following advice applies mainly to the two gulfs.
Black bream - All year, best in winter/spring. Use live tube or blood worms, peeled prawn or tiny lures, best dawn and dusk, often at turn of the tide.
Crabs, blue swimmer - Best in summer/autumn. Rake them or use nets baited with fish frames, fish day or night.
Crabs, sand (two-spot) - May to June. Use drop nets baited with fish frames, tide dependent, their presence is usually noted when they start stealing fishing baits.
Flathead - All year. Use baits of bluebait, whitebait, small pilchards, squid, fish strips or lures, they bite all day.
Flounder - All year. Will take tiny baits of peeled prawn, worms or squid at night tide, but the usual method is spearing in the shallows at night.
Garfish - Best in summer/autumn. Use tiny baits of maggots, prawn, cockles presented on a float or just drifted back from boat, or dab at night with a net and light, they bite all day.
Mullet - Strong run of fish in autumn/winter. Use tiny baits of mince meat, seaweed worms or cockles. They bite in daylight, usually in very close along beaches at high tide.
Mulloway - Best in summer but can be caught all year. Use live baits or fresh fish fillets or freshly caught squid. Fish dusk into the night at turn of tide.
Salmon - Best in autumn/winter but they show up all year. Use baits of peeled prawn, bluebait, whitebait, cockles, pilchards or lures. Best at high tide at dusk and dawn.
Snapper - Best in spring/summer. Use baits of squid, pilchards, fish fillets or jigs. Best at dusk and dawn and they come in close after stormy weather.
Snook - Bite all year. Use lures, pilchards or fish strips. They bite well at night under jetty lights.
Squid - Available all year but best in summer. Use artificial jig lures or baited wire jigs. Best at dawn when the water is clear, but also at dusk and night.
Tommy ruffs - All year. Use maggots, peeled prawn, cockles. Best at night.
Whiting, king george - These bite all year but often better in winter, use baits of cockles, peeled prawn or squid on the edge of seagrass beds, they bite all day, often tide dependent.
Whiting, silver - All year. Use tiny baits of cockles, worms or peeled prawns.
Whiting, yellowfin - All year but best in summer. Use fresh or live worms or peeled prawns. Some fishos do OK on tiny lures.
Fishing tackle recommendations for South Australia
A 3-6kg spinning outfit is suitable for general estuary and light boat fishing in South Australia. See this eBay listing for a suggested spinning combo here.
The above light outfit can be used on shallow, low-energy beaches to catch SA's yellowfin whiting and yelloweye mullet, but a dedicated light surf rod would be better for this purpose.
An 8-12kg spin outfit suits fishing for large salmon and mulloway on South Australia's high-energy ocean surf beaches. See eBay listing here.
Small metal slice lures work well on South Australia's salmon trout, silver trevally, flathead, barracoutta, tommies and snook. See eBay listing here.
Use larger metal slice lures on high-energy beaches where big salmon are expected.
Soft plastic grubs work well on bream, salmon trout and tommies, and freshwater fish such as yellowbelly, redfin, cod and trout. See eBay listing here.
Jig heads are needed for unrigged soft plastic lures. See eBay listing here.
Squid jigs are an essential item in South Australia as large squid are usually abundant in gulf waters and are readily available on jetties. Baited jigs are popular in South Australia - these can be cast and left out until a squid arrives. Bait these jigs with a tommy ruff or mullet and set this under a float. If you don't want to use baited jigs, standard lure jigs such as these work well ... see eBay listing here.
The secret for successful squid fishing is to fish dusk, darkness and dawn, when the water is clear. Summer is usually best.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait, and work well when fishing for South Australia's sweep, tommy ruffs, salmon trout and trevally. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. See eBay listing here.
Star sinkers or snapper leads are generally used on a paternoster rig for surf and boat fishing. For most other fishing, ball sinkers are used, as part of a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks in mixed sizes are needed. Suggest 4# to #8 for whiting, mullet and tommy ruffs, 10# to #12 for garfish, 1/0 for bream, 4/0 for salmon and flathead and 11/0 for large mulloway. See eBay listing here.
Flounder spearing is popular in South Australia. A submerged light is generally used to find the fish, see eBay listing here.
Crabbing is popular in the South Australian shallows, using a crab rake. See eBay listing here.
By former Murray River fisheries officer TREVOR SIMMONDS
Murray Bridge is the largest riverside town on the lower South Australian section of the Murray River.
It has good boat launching facilities.
The many shallow lagoons in this area are great locations to target big carp.
This area is an easy day trip from Adelaide.
Carp of all sizes are plentiful, but occasional good callop and redfin surprise fishermen.
Like Mannum, willow trees have been a problem here, restricting bankside access.
Almost all fish caught from Murray Bridge downstream to the lower Murray lakes have a yellow tinge, and the red on redfin perch can appear almost non existent.
If buying a shrimp trap or yabby pot, be sure it complies with SA rules here.
For bait, earthworms work well, but you can’t beat locally caught live shrimp. Try a live bony bream for cod.
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
****
Email any corrections, additions, pictures or video here.
Some external videos filmed on the Murray River are featured below.
Murray River callop fishing
iFish Murray cod electrofishing (research)
Murray River carp fishing
Murray River bait fishing
Murray cod kayak fishing
Lure fishing for Murray River callop (yellowbelly)
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
Email any corrections, additions, pictures or video here.
Some external videos filmed on the Murray River are featured below.
Murray River callop fishing
iFish Murray cod electrofishing (research)
Murray River carp fishing
Murray River bait fishing
Murray cod kayak fishing
Lure fishing for Murray River callop (yellowbelly)
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
Email any corrections, additions, pictures or video here.
Some external videos filmed on the Murray River are featured below.
Murray River callop fishing
iFish Murray cod electrofishing (research)
Murray River carp fishing
Murray River bait fishing
Murray cod kayak fishing
Lure fishing for Murray River callop (yellowbelly)
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
By former Murray River fisheries officer TREVOR SIMMONDS
Morgan is a historic town on the South Australian section of the Murray River.
It has good boat launching facilities.
Being close to Adelaide it is quite popular, and you will find it more difficult to find a piece of river to yourself here than towns further upstream.
The Morgan and Cadell sections of the river are productive for callop and carp, with occasional cod, both upstream and downstream of the towns.
Yabbies are usually about in big numbers in summer, particularly in the small creeks that enter the main stream.
Downstream from Morgan, approaching Blanchetown, there are numerous lagoons and billabongs that are worth a fish for callop, look for some submerged snags.
If buying a shrimp trap or yabby pot, be sure it complies with SA rules here.
For bait, earthworms work well, but you can’t beat locally caught live shrimp.
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
By former Murray River fisheries officer TREVOR SIMMONDS
Waikerie is a town on the South Australian section of the Murray River.
It has good boat launching facilities.
Lock Two is located downstream.
The main river between Lock Two and Overland Corner upstream is very productive for callop, carp, cod and yabbies.
Access is available for bank fishing along many tracks that branch from the main road between Kingston-on-Murray to Waikerie.
Good fishing can be had from the bank in the township, but boat fishing upstream for about 2km is better, fishing close to the bank.
Telegraph Cliffs further upstream is definitely worth a try for cod and callop, although a boat is necessary.
Downstream from Waikerie on the floodplain there is a bank launch on the first big bend and this will be one of the closest approaches to fish an area called Broken Cliff, which is a popular spot for callop.
For bank fishermen there is also an opportunity to fish Broken Cliff as it is accessible by crossing on the ferry and following the road on the northern side of the river.
A boat launch is feasible in this area during summer months.
Further downstream is Lock Two, fishos should fish try for about 1km downstream as this area is one of the most productive areas on the river.
The following boat ramps are located in the Loxton/Waikerie District …
A light spinning outfit is ideal for general lure and bait fishing in the river. If you are targeting murray cod you might need something heavier, but 6kg line is enough for most river cod.
If buying a shrimp trap or yabby pot, be sure it complies with SA rules here.
For bait, earthworms work well, but you can’t beat locally caught live shrimp.
Firstly, a lure desnagger/retriever will quickly pay for itself. If you are fishing properly you WILL get snagged. The simplest type is simply dropped down on a cord ... eBay link here.
A more effective type (we have used them all) is the steel coil at the end of a telescopic pole ... eBay link here. If you want a fair dinkum true blue Aussie lure desnagger, try this one ... eBay link here.
For rods and reels, a 3-6kg spin outfit is ideal for most Murray River bait and lure fishing. See eBay listing here. If you are chasing big murray cod, you'll need something heavier.
Many types of soft plastics work on Murray fish, but these grubs are a good all-rounder ... eBay listing here.
Jig heads in various sizes are needed for most soft plastic lures, use the lightest heads that you can cast. See eBay listing here.
Floats are useful for suspending a bait. The polystyrene floats in the following listing are slid onto the line and a stopper is placed above the float to set the depth fished. Always use the smallest size for the conditions and bait you are using. See eBay listing here. Clear bubble floats are preferable for Murray fishing when the water is clear.
Ball sinkers are ideal for river bait fishing, using a running sinker rig. See eBay listing here.
Hooks up to around 1/0 are ideal for the Murray bait fishing, with fine-gauge hooks best for livebait fishing. See eBay listing here.
****
Email any corrections, additions, pictures or video here.
Some external videos filmed on the Murray River are featured below.
Murray River callop fishing
iFish Murray cod electrofishing (research)
Murray River carp fishing
Murray River bait fishing
Murray cod kayak fishing
Lure fishing for Murray River callop (yellowbelly)
