Mackerel Tuna
Mack tuna are a staple of Australia's tropical and subtropical inshore fishery, running from the central WA coast around the north and down the east coast to southern NSW.
Schools can number in the thousands, and when they're up and feeding they'll smash metal lures with little hesitation. Light-tackle spinning from rocks, piers and small boats is the main game — a three-to-five kilo fish on a light rod is genuinely memorable.
Scientific Name: Euthynnus affinis
Also known as Mack tuna, Kawa kawa, Kawakawa, Little tuna, Little tunny, Bonito, Jack mackerel
- Dark blue-black back fading to silvery-white below; distinctive broken, wavy diagonal stripes on the upper sides behind the midpoint of the first dorsal fin.
- Two to five dark spots sitting above the pelvic fins — the clearest single ID feature that separates this species from frigate mackerel and skipjack.
- First and second dorsal fins sit very close together — never more than one eye-diameter apart — unlike the frigate mackerel, which has a clear gap.
- Common catch along the WA coast runs 3–5 kg; the Australian all-tackle record is 11.8 kg (Queensland). Maximum size reaches around 100 cm and 15 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australia; a tropical and subtropical species found from Shark Bay and the offshore reefs of WA, around the tropical north, and down the east coast to southern NSW, with records from Christmas Island and Lord Howe Island.
- Pelagic and coastal — typically found in the top 50 m of water, staying close to shore but occasionally moving into open water. Juveniles sometimes push into bays and harbours.
- Forms large, fast-moving schools, often mixing with similarly sized tunas and mackerel species. Schools can cover 100 square metres or more when actively feeding on the surface.
Key Locations
- Urangan Pier, Hervey Bay (QLD) — a well-known land-based spot where schools move through regularly.
- 1770 (Agnes Water), central Queensland coast — rocky headlands and reef edges concentrate fish within casting range of shore.
- Exmouth and the Mackerel Islands, WA — tropical northwest waters hold fish year-round; the WA state record came from Exmouth.
- Southern Queensland and northern NSW coast — fish can appear in large numbers here, sometimes in what rock fishers describe as plague proportions.
Specific Spots
- Rocky headlands and reef edges concentrate baitfish and draw feeding schools close enough to reach from the shore — the fish work the current lines around points.
- Piers and jetties over deeper water, such as Urangan Pier at Hervey Bay, give land-based anglers height and casting distance to intercept passing pods.
- Surface feeding activity mid-water and near the surface — watch for birds working over busting fish and position ahead of the school's direction of travel rather than motoring into it.
- Offshore reef structures and current edges hold baitfish schools that mack tuna patrol; anchoring or drifting upcurrent and casting into the melee works well from a boat.
Mackerel Tuna FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Mackerel Tuna?
Metal slices and chrome slugs between 35–65 g are the bread-and-butter lure, cast long, retrieve fast, and vary the cadence. Larger fish will also eat metals up to 85 g.
When is the best time to fish for Mackerel Tuna?
Tropical north (WA, NT, QLD): present year-round in warmer waters, with schools most accessible inshore during the dry season (roughly April–October). Southern Queensland and northern NSW: most reliable from late summer through autumn (February–May) as warm currents push schools south along the coast.
How do you catch Mackerel Tuna?
Most Australian anglers target mack tuna by spinning metals or poppers from rock platforms, piers, or small boats. The key is locating a feeding school visually, birds and surface boils are the giveaway, then positioning ahead of the school and casting into its path rather than motoring through it and scattering the...
What do Mackerel Tuna eat?
Feeds on small fish, shrimps and squid (cephalopods), fast-swimming prey taken at speed in open water. Metal slices and chrome slugs between 35–65 g imitate fleeing baitfish and are the go-to lure category. Will hit hard-bodied lures including poppers and diving minnows, especially larger fish.
Where do Mackerel Tuna live?
Native to Australia; a tropical and subtropical species found from Shark Bay and the offshore reefs of WA, around the tropical north, and down the east coast to southern NSW, with records from Christmas Island and Lord Howe Island.
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