Fish Tripper
Pelagic Game FishThunnus albacares

Yellowfin Tuna Fishing

Hard-fighting tuna found in blue water across the east coast. Aggregates around current lines and FADs. Excellent on poppers, stickbaits, and trolled lures.

Best Months

Jan – Dec

Best Time

Dawn and dusk are explosive; fish can be found surface-feeding on bait schools any time of day

Tide

Fish current lines and colour edges; incoming tide often concentrates bait near structure

Top Locations

89 regions

How to Catch Yellowfin Tuna

Dawn and dusk are explosive; fish can be found surface-feeding on bait schools any time of dayFish current lines and colour edges; incoming tide often concentrates bait near structureModerate swell
Tides

Fish current lines and colour edges; incoming tide often concentrates bait near structure

Time of Day

Dawn and dusk are explosive; fish can be found surface-feeding on bait schools any time of day

Conditions

Moderate swell, visible colour change in the water (blue vs green edge), birds working offshore

Structure

FADs, floating debris, weed lines, current seams, submarine ridges in blue water

Technique

High-speed crank for poppers and stickbaits; let jigs flutter on the drop at the desired depth; vary the jigging cadence — fast-then-pause triggers strikes

Pro Tip

Match the hatch — if they're eating small baitfish, downsize your lures. Schools will follow a hooked fish; leave one in the water to keep the school lit up

Best Regions by Month

Seasonal ratings across all Australian regions. Click a region to see the full calendar.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Coffs Harbour
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Newcastle
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Sydney
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Jervis Bay
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Batemans Bay
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Eden
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Port Stephens
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Wollongong
P
P
G
F
F
G
G
P
P
Peak Good Fair Poor/None
Fishing Techniques
Vertical Jigging

Working metal jigs up and down in the water column over reefs or structure.

Trolling

Dragging lures or baits at speed behind a moving boat. Primary technique for pelagics.

Surface Popping

Casting cup-faced poppers to create surface commotion targeting aggressive surface feeders.

Stickbaiting

Casting and working walk-the-dog style stickbaits on the surface or just subsurface.

When to Target
Jan
81 regions
Feb
74 regions
Mar
46 regions
Apr
2 regions
Sep
43 regions
Oct
51 regions
Nov
72 regions
Dec
72 regions

Bag & Size Limits

Regulations vary by state and change seasonally. Check the official fisheries website for current rules.

Australian Lure Fishing Podcast

Greg Vinall — Doc Lures

Browse all episodes on Spotify

Gear Guide

See the recommended tackle, lures, and equipment for this species.