Species guide
How to catch Bartail flathead
Platycephalus indicus
The bartail flathead is an ambush predator with an elongated body, inhabiting sandy or muddy substrates in coastal and estuarine waters. It primarily hunts fish and crustaceans and can grow up to 1 meter long. This species is prized in recreational fishing across several ocean regions.
Where they live
Found in shallow to moderately deep inshore brackish and saltwater environments up to 200 meters deep, especially estuaries with sandy or muddy bottoms across the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean regions.
Typical size
Up to about 100 cm
What they eat
- small fish
- crustaceans
Best baits
- live shrimp
- small fish pieces
- soft plastic shrimp
Best lures
- soft plastic jerkbaits
- small hard plastic minnows
- jigs
How to fish for them
- bottom fishing
- ambush fishing with soft plastics
- drift fishing
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