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. Sand Flathead catches of southern New South Wales and in eastern Bass Strait are controlled by the Commonwealth of Australia under regulations applying to the South East Fishery. Gear restrictions and legal minimum lengths apply in all States. The maximum age of flathead is 9 years and the maximum size is 46 - 120 cm tail length. Weight maximums are 3 - 15 kg.
Flathead are also a popular recreational fish.
Wire traces are recommended as they have sharp, powerful mouths. Live, small fish are a very successful bait. Fishing on the edge of sandbars and particularly on the edge of channels in marine lakes produces good catches. The colour of raw Flathead fillet is white. When cooked, the flesh is tender to firm and flakes easily.