Species
Longtail Tuna
Thunnus tonggol
Tier 2Eating7/10medium tackleNSWQLDWANT
31 waypoints~60–100 cm typical
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Range & spots
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Overview: about longtail tuna
Inshore tuna of northern NSW, QLD and northern Australia — often busts up on baitfish along beaches, headlands and inshore reef. Targeted by casting metals, stickbaits and small skirts at feeding schools. Strong, fast and accessible from shore in many spots.
Biology: Longtail Tuna size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Inshore, Offshore, Pelagic
- Typical size
- 60–100 cm (max 145 cm)
- Weight
- 4–15 kg (max 36 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–100 m
- Diet
- pilchards, anchovies, squid, krill
- Most active
- diurnal
- Global range
- Indo-West Pacific tropical to subtropical (Thunnus tonggol)
How to target: Longtail Tuna angling strategies
Generally fished with medium tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- small metal slugs (30-60g) cast into bust-ups along headlands and beach gutters
- stickbaits skipped over surface boil-ups
- fly with 10wt and small surf candies into balled bait
- trolling small skirts and bibless minnows along current lines
Best season: when to catch longtail tuna in Australia
- NSW
- Feb-Jun (north coast)
- QLD
- year-round (peak Apr-Sep)
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Where to catch: longtail tuna fishing spots in Australia
31 mapped fishing spots, marks and waypoints for longtail tuna across Australia, covering land-based fishing, rock fishing, beach fishing, surf fishing, estuary fishing and offshore and bluewater fishing. Each location below links through to access notes and coordinates.
Queensland15
- 10 mile North endReef · QLD-26.60°
- 12 mileReef · QLD-26.53°
- 12 mile SouthReef · QLD-26.57°
- 8 mileReef · QLD-26.62°
- Caloundra 12 mileReef · QLD-26.80°
- Cape Moreton Bait markBait Ground · QLD-27.05°
- Hervey Bay Artificial ReefReef · QLD-25.25°
- Noosa Bait spot North of Sunshine ReefBait Ground · QLD-26.33°
- Northern North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.27°
- Platypus BayBay · QLD-25.02°
- Southern North Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.30°
- Spot X bait spot west of Murphy'sBait Ground · QLD-26.70°
- Sunshine Reef off NoosaReef · QLD-26.38°
- Western Rocks/YellowpatchReef · QLD-27.02°
- Wide CurrimundiReef · QLD-26.77°
Northern Territory11
- Cape Don (Cobourg)Headland · NT-11.30°
- Cape Fourcroy (Bathurst)Headland · NT-11.78°
- Cape HayHeadland · NT-13.52°
- Cape HothamHeadland · NT-12.07°
- Channel PointBeach · NT-13.08°
- Charles PointHeadland · NT-12.38°
- Goodwin SandsReef · NT-11.55°
- Nightcliff ForeshoreRock Platform · NT-12.38°
- North IslandShoal · NT-15.58°
- South Peron IslandShoal · NT-13.15°
- Wigram IslandReef · NT-11.92°