Longtail Tuna
Longtail tuna are a coastal pelagic that patrol beaches, headlands, bays and even estuaries along Australia's east and west coasts.
Commonly called northern bluefin tuna — a misnomer that causes confusion — they're the tuna most accessible to everyday anglers: small boats, kayaks, even land-based casters can reach them.
Schools bust bait on the surface close to shore, and when hooked, their stamina far outlasts similarly sized mackerel tuna.
Scientific Name: Thunnus tonggol
Also known as Northern bluefin tuna, northern bluefin
- Slender, torpedo-shaped body — more elongate than other tunas of similar size, with noticeably shorter pectoral fins relative to body length.
- Distinctive rows of colorless, elongate oval spots along the lower sides and belly — the clearest field mark separating longtails from mackerel tuna and other inshore species.
- Deep, well-developed keel on the caudal peduncle with two smaller keels flanking it; the namesake tail is long and slender.
- Common catch weights run 8–12 kg; early-season fish can push 20 kg, and the species reaches around 35–36 kg maximum.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australian waters; found from Fremantle, WA, around the northern coast and down the east coast to Twofold Bay, NSW — absent from the southern coast.
- A coastal, shelf-water species that stays inshore — unlike yellowfin or bigeye tuna, longtails rarely venture far offshore and are commonly found inside bays, sounds and harbours.
- Prefer clear, warm water and actively avoid murky estuaries, though they will push into sheltered bays and occasionally rivers when following bait.
- Form schools, often mixed with mackerel tuna; larger fish (25 kg+) tend to travel in smaller groups of five or six, patrolling beaches and headlands.
Key Locations
- Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast, QLD — a core area for the seasonal run, with fish accessible to small boats and kayaks inside the bay.
- Hervey Bay, QLD — early-season fish, often larger and roe-heavy, arrive at the northern end of this bay before moving south.
- Fraser Island (K'gari) inshore waters, QLD — longtails push close to the island's beaches and headlands during the run.
- NSW Mid-North Coast — fish migrate south along the beaches and into lakes and estuaries, accessible to land-based and small-boat anglers north of Sydney.
- Cape York Peninsula and northern Australia — longtails are present year-round in tropical coastal waters across the north.
Specific Spots
- Surface bust-ups over bait schools are the primary visual cue — look for diving birds and white water, then plan your approach before casting.
- Rocky headlands and points concentrate bait and create current edges that longtails patrol; land-based anglers can reach fish here when schools push close.
- Inside bays and sounds — Moreton Bay, Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast — schools move through on the tide, often surprisingly close to shore and accessible to small boats and kayaks.
- Beach gutters and nearshore structure along the NSW Mid-North Coast and southeast QLD hold fish during the seasonal run, particularly at dawn and dusk when bait is active near the surface.
Longtail Tuna FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Longtail Tuna?
Metal slugs and casting jigs are the traditional go-to, easy to cast long distances and fast retrieves trigger reaction strikes from feeding schools; chrome or blue/white finishes in 20–60 g cover most situations.
What flies work for Longtail Tuna?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate baitfish) in white, chartreuse or blue/white are a reliable first choice, the weighted eyes get the fly down quickly and the material breathes on the strip, matching a fleeing pilchard or anchovy.
When is the best time to fish for Longtail Tuna?
Southeast QLD and northern NSW: the main run arrives in spring (September–November), with larger fish often appearing first at the northern end of the range; activity continues through summer and into autumn (February–April).
How do you catch Longtail Tuna?
Most anglers in southeast QLD and northern NSW chase longtails by running and gunning from small boats or kayaks, covering ground until they spot surface bust-ups or bird activity, then positioning upwind or upcurrent before casting metal lures or stickbaits through the school.
What do Longtail Tuna eat?
Longtails feed heavily on baitfish, pilchards, herrings, anchovies and whitebait, which is why metal slugs, stickbaits and slender minnow lures that match a fleeing baitfish profile draw strikes from feeding schools.
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