Open Year-Round

Longtail Tuna

Thunnus tonggol

Also known as: Northern bluefin tuna

DPIRD Category Large Pelagic
Peak Season April - October
Difficulty Intermediate
Fight Rating ★★★★☆
Longtail Tuna

Regulations & Limits

LARGE PELAGIC

Limits by Bioregion

West Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
South Coast N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Gascoyne N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
Pilbara N/A
Species not commonly found in this region
North Coast (Kimberley) N/A
Species not commonly found in this region

ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au

Size & Weight

Typical Size60-80 cm
Max Size145 cm
Typical Weight3-8 kg
Max Weight36 kg

Habitat

Where: Inshore reefs, headlands and current lines in tropical and subtropical waters

Depth: Surface to 50m

ID Features: Elongated body, no markings on lower flanks (distinguishes from other tunas), long pectoral fins

Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak Available Poor

Peak: April - October | Water Temp: 22-30°C

How to Catch Longtail Tuna

1

Trolling

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-4
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Small skirted lures
  • Bibbed minnows
  • Stickbaits
2

Casting

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-3
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Top Lures

  • Metal slugs
  • Stickbaits
  • Poppers
3

Live baiting

Setup

  • Line: PE 2-4
  • Leader: 40-60lb fluorocarbon

Best Baits

  • Live yakkas
  • Live mulies
  • Live garfish

Eating Quality

★★★★☆ Very Good

Flesh: Dark red, firm flesh with moderate oil content

Best cooked: Seared rare, sashimi, grilled steaks

The Fight

★★★★☆ 4/5

Explosive surface strikes followed by powerful runs. Longtails are renowned for their stamina and speed, often making multiple long runs before tiring.

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