Species
Yellowtail Kingfish
Seriola lalandi
Also known as yellowtail amberjack · hiramasa · great amberjack
Tier 1Eating8/10heavy tackleNSWVICQLDSAWATAS
89 waypoints60–110 cm (max 200 cm) typical
Regulations
NSW65 cm min · bag 5VIC60 cm min · bag 5SA60 cm min · bag 1WA60 cm min · bag 2
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 65 cm min | 5 |
| VIC | 60 cm min | 5 |
| SA | 60 cm min | 1 |
| WA | 60 cm min | 2 |
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about yellowtail kingfish
Premier inshore sportfish of southern QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS and SA. Targeted with live yakkas and squid, big soft plastics, jigs and stickbaits around headlands, FADs, reef edges and offshore structure. Brutal first run and a habit of bricking you in the reef — heavy gear is the norm.
Biology: Yellowtail Kingfish size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Inshore, Offshore, Pelagic, Reef
- Typical size
- 60–110 cm (max 200 cm)
- Weight
- 5–20 kg (max 70 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–200 m
- Diet
- yakkas, slimy mackerel, squid, kahawai
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) — temperate to subtropical Australasia
How to target: Yellowtail Kingfish angling strategies
Generally fished with heavy tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- live yakkas or slimy mackerel slow-trolled around headlands, reefs and FADs
- stickbaits and poppers cast at sighted fish near wash zones
- knife jigs and mechanical jigs over offshore wrecks and pinnacles
- downrigger-trolled deep minnows at the 50m line
Best season: when to catch yellowtail kingfish in Australia
- NSW
- Oct-May (peak Dec-Mar)
- VIC
- Dec-Apr (Eastern Vic)
- SA
- Dec-Apr
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Safety & handling
Yellowtail flukes (Seriola larvae) cause kingfish pox in some flesh — cook well.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught yellowtail kingfish
No yellowtail kingfish catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: yellowtail kingfish fishing spots in Australia
New South Wales51
- 12 Mile ReefReef · NSW-33.87°
- Bass Point - ShellharbourHeadland · NSW-34.60°
- Batemans Bay - Tollgate IslandsReef · NSW-35.74°
- Bermagui BluewaterRock Platform · NSW-36.42°
- Botany Bay - KurnellEstuary · NSW-34.01°
- Botany Bay Artificial ReefReef · NSW-33.98°
- Coal Loader, WavertonWharf · NSW-33.84°
- Coffs Harbour JettyJetty · NSW-30.30°
- Cowan CreekEstuary · NSW-33.63°
- Crowdy HeadHeadland · NSW-31.84°
- Currarong - Beecroft PeninsulaRock Platform · NSW-35.02°
- Diamond BayRock Platform · NSW-33.87°
- Eden - Twofold BayBay · NSW-37.07°
- Forster-Tuncurry BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-32.17°
- Hawkesbury Brooklyn Bridge PylonsWharf · NSW-33.55°
- Iluka BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-29.41°
- Jervis Bay - Point PerpendicularHeadland · NSW-35.09°
- Long Reef WideReef · NSW-33.74°
- MV Malabar WreckWreck · NSW-33.97°
- Manta ArchReef · NSW-29.93°
- Montague IslandReef · NSW-36.25°
- Narooma - Wagonga InletEstuary · NSW-36.22°
- Newcastle HarbourEstuary · NSW-32.93°
- North Avoca HeadlandHeadland · NSW-33.46°
- North Head - SydneyHeadland · NSW-33.82°
- North Solitary IslandReef · NSW-29.93°
- PittwaterEstuary · NSW-33.61°
- Port Macquarie Artificial ReefReef · NSW-31.45°
- Port Stephens - Broughton IslandReef · NSW-32.62°
- SS Annie M Miller WreckWreck · NSW-34.85°
- SS Birchgrove Park WreckWreck · NSW-33.58°
- SS Catterthun WreckWreck · NSW-32.49°
- SS Centurion WreckWreck · NSW-33.73°
- SS Myola WreckWreck · NSW-33.80°
- SS Tuggerah WreckWreck · NSW-33.30°
- SS Undola WreckWreck · NSW-34.45°
- SS Wollongbar WreckWreck · NSW-28.82°
- Solitary Islands WideReef · NSW-30.02°
- South West Rocks - Trial BayBay · NSW-30.88°
- South West Rocks Artificial ReefReef · NSW-30.88°
- South West Solitary IslandReef · NSW-30.20°
- Sydney Harbour - The SoundEstuary · NSW-33.83°
- Sydney Offshore Artificial ReefReef · NSW-33.71°
- Tathra WharfWharf · NSW-36.73°
- Terrigal HavenBay · NSW-33.45°
- The 32 FathomReef · NSW-33.90°
- The Banks (12 Mile Reef)Reef · NSW-33.85°
- The PeakReef · NSW-33.84°
- Twelve Mile Reef NewcastleReef · NSW-32.90°
- Ulladulla HarbourBreakwall · NSW-35.36°
- Wollongong HarbourBreakwall · NSW-34.42°
Victoria10
- Cape ConranRock Platform · VIC-37.82°
- City of Foochow WreckWreck · VIC-38.65°
- Crawfish RockReef · VIC-38.40°
- Lonsdale WallReef · VIC-38.30°
- Popes EyeReef · VIC-38.28°
- Port Phillip HeadsRock Platform · VIC-38.29°
- Pyramid RockRock Platform · VIC-38.54°
- SS Federal WreckWreck · VIC-38.43°
- South Channel FortReef · VIC-38.29°
- Wilsons PromontoryRock Platform · VIC-39.13°
Queensland9
- 23 mile edge of the Barwon Banks NW endReef · QLD-26.48°
- Cape Moreton Bait markBait Ground · QLD-27.05°
- Hutchison Shoal off Cape MoretonShoal · QLD-26.93°
- Noosa Bait spot North of Sunshine ReefBait Ground · QLD-26.33°
- Spot X bait spot west of Murphy'sBait Ground · QLD-26.70°
- Tiger Kelly wreckWreck · QLD-26.60°
- Wreck 11 miles East of MooloolabaWreck · QLD-26.70°
- Wreck of the Centaur/Kyogle off Cape MoretonWreck · QLD-27.00°
- Wreck of the JodieWreck · QLD-26.73°
South Australia9
Tasmania8
More information: yellowtail kingfish references & sources
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