Also known as
- Northern Bluefin Tuna US
Identification
A medium-sized Indo-Pacific coastal tuna with a streamlined torpedo build engineered for high-speed pursuit of bait schools. Males and females reach similar sizes.
- Metallic dark blue to greenish back, silvery-white belly
- Bright yellow finlets edged with narrow black margins
- Extremely long pectoral fins extending past the second dorsal — basis for the 'longtail' name
- First dorsal blue-black; second dorsal and anal fins yellowish
- Slim caudal peduncle with prominent keels
Where it holds
- Inshore
- Offshore
Behaviour
An Indo-Pacific coastal and nearshore tuna — far more inshore-oriented than other Thunnus tunas. Schools concentrate around reef edges, islands, headlands, and shelf-break drop-offs in 0-50m, marking productive water with bird workups and surface bust-ups on bait. Tolerates warm tropical water that excludes other tunas. Migrations are localised within range — Northern Australian, SE Asian, Red Sea, and East African coastal grounds. Peak activity at dawn and dusk on bait migrations.
Diet: Anchovies, Sardines, Small Mackerel, Garfish, Small Squid
How it's caught
Line Fishing
Spinning
The defining Australian, SE Asian, and Indo-Pacific approach — exhilarating sight-cast to bust-ups under birds. Pitch 60-150g small stickbaits, poppers, slug-style metals, or weighted soft plastics into breaking fish. Aggressive fast-pop or walk-the-dog retrieves trigger explosive strikes. PE3-5 setups with 60-80lb fluoro leader.
Trolling
A high-mileage approach for finding scattered fish along shelf edges, reef walls, and current lines. Pull a spread of small to medium skirted lures, feathers, diving plugs, and rigged squid at 6-8 knots. 10-24kg gear standard. Watch for bird activity, baitfish surface flicks, and slick patches.
Live Lining
A productive shelf-edge and reef approach when bait schools concentrate fish. Slow-troll or drift a live small mackerel, sardine, pilchard, or yakka on a 4/0-6/0 non-offset circle hook with fluorocarbon leader. Bridle the bait. 10-24kg gear with long topshot. Northern Australian and Thai-Andaman charter standard.
Jigging
Effective when fish hold deep at 30-80m on reef edges and shelf-break structure. Drop a 80-200g knife jig or slow-pitch jig and rip with sharp 1-2m cadence sweeps; many strikes come on the flutter fall. PE3-5 braid with 4-5m of fluorocarbon topshot.
Spear Fishing
Bluewater Spearfishing
A productive Indo-Pacific bluewater target — fish cruise reef edges, islands, and shelf walls in 10-40m, making them accessible to intermediate spearos. Curious in small schools, but fast and quick to flee. Use a 110-130cm bluewater speargun with 7.0mm shaft, slip-tip, breakaway rig, and float-line into a hard float. Flasher helps draw schools in.
