Champion local Paul Lennon has caught the biggest of just about every species of fish in and around Port Stephens. Mulloway, kingfish, bream and snapper have all been ticked off Paul's list, however, until last week, he hadn't caught a flathead over one metre. Fishing for mulloway Paul felt a heavy weight that didn't fight like a mulloway. Surprise! A one metre flatty. As Paul does with all his big fish captures, they are photographed and released gently back into the system. 

Port Stephens is famous for dusky flathead. Not to be mistaken with sand flathead caught in deep water outside the heads, the dusky swims throughout the port from the mangrove shallows of the upper reaches of the Karuah River to the sand and sea grass beds of Shoal Bay. Duskies do venture outside the heads and will snuffle along our sandy beaches from Stockton to Fingal. The best time to target dusky flathead is right now into the warmer summer months. Best baits are pilchards, however plastics and hard lures work a treat