Open Year-Round
Yellowtail Kingfish
Seriola lalandi
Also known as: Kingfish, Kingy, Yellowtail
DPIRD Category
Large Pelagic Finfish
Peak Season
Mar-Jun
Difficulty
Moderate
Fight Rating
★★★★★
Regulations & Limits
LARGE PELAGIC FINFISH
Limits by Bioregion
West Coast
OPEN
Min Size
600mm
Individual Limit
3 fish
Mixed Limit
Within 3 large pelagic total
✓ Open year-round.
South Coast
OPEN
Min Size
600mm
Individual Limit
3 fish
Mixed Limit
Within 3 large pelagic total
✓ Open year-round.
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
Good to Know
- Part of 3 fish mixed large pelagic limit
ℹ️ Regulations can change. Always verify current rules at rules.fish.wa.gov.au
Size & Weight
| Typical Size | 80 cm |
| Max Size | 180 cm |
| Typical Weight | 15 kg |
| Max Weight | 50 kg |
Habitat
Where: Reef edges, FADs, offshore structure
Depth: 10-100m
ID Features: Blue-green back, silver sides, yellow tail and stripe, elongated body
Season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Peak
Available
Poor
Peak: Mar-Jun | Water Temp: 17 – 24°C
How to Catch Yellowtail Kingfish
1
Jigging
Setup
- Line: PE4-6 / 24-37kg
- Leader: 60-100lb fluoro
Top Lures
- Slow pitch jigs 150-300g
- Speed jigs
- Knife jigs
Best Baits
- Live squid
- Live yakkas
2
Live baiting
Setup
- Line: PE4-6 / 24-37kg
- Leader: 80-100lb fluoro
Top Lures
- Large soft plastics
Best Baits
- Live yellowtail
- Live slimy mackerel
- Live squid
Eating Quality
Flesh: White/pink
Best cooked: Sashimi, grilled, pan fried
The Fight
Powerful runs, structure dives