Flathead (fish) facts for kids
A flathead is a type of fish known for its very flat head. These fish come in many different species, all belonging to the same fish family called Platycephalidae. You can find many flathead species in the Indo-Pacific region, especially around Australia. They are popular fish for sport fishing and for eating.
Flathead fish live in places where rivers meet the sea, called estuaries, and also in the open ocean. They can grow quite large, up to 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) long and weigh up to 15 kilograms (about 33 pounds). The Dusky Flathead is usually the biggest kind, but it's rare to catch one that huge.
How Flathead Fish Are Built
Flathead fish have a very unique body shape. It helps them hunt for food! Their bodies are wide but very flat and low to the ground. Both of their eyes are on top of their flat heads. This gives them great vision to spot prey swimming above them.
They use this flat body to hide in the sand. Their skin color can even change to match their surroundings! Only their eyes stick out. When a small fish or prawn swims by, the flathead bursts upwards to catch it. They use a mix of rushing forward and sucking in their prey. This helps them grab their meal quickly.
Flathead fish have two short spikes on each side of their heads and on top of their heads. These spikes contain a mild venom. If you get stung, it can cause pain and might get infected. The pain usually lasts for a day or two.
Where Flathead Fish Live
Dusky Flatheads are found in estuaries and bays along the coast. You can find them from Cairns in Queensland down to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. They like to live over sand, mud, gravel, and in seagrass beds. They can even live in river waters that are affected by tides.
Other types of flathead, like sand flathead, tiger flathead, and bar-tailed flathead, usually live more offshore. They prefer sandy areas around and between coastal reefs. However, some bar-tailed flathead can also be found in estuaries, like the Swan/Canning River System in Perth.
Why Flathead Fish Are Important to People
Fishermen enjoy catching flathead fish all year round. They use different kinds of bait and lures. However, flathead are caught more often during the summer months. Only a few of the many flathead species are regularly caught by fishermen.
Flathead species that live in cooler areas are often considered better for eating. In the Australian state of New South Wales, a lot of flathead are caught for commercial fishing. This means they are caught by professional fishermen to be sold in markets.
