Yellowtail Kingfish
Yellowtail kingfish are the benchmark saltwater sportfish along Australia's southern coastline.
Native to these waters, they run from southern Queensland around to Shark Bay in WA, including Tasmania, and draw dedicated followings in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and WA.
Big fish push past 20 kg and test tackle hard — they dive straight for structure the moment they feel the hook.
Scientific Name: Seriola lalandi
Also known as Kingfish, Kings, YTK, Hoodlum, Bandit, Tasmanian Yellowtail
- Torpedo-shaped, compressed body — dark blue to greenish-blue on the back, silvery-white below, with a distinct yellow-to-bronze stripe running from the eye to the tail.
- The caudal fin is strongly forked and unmistakably yellow — the feature that gives the species its name and separates it from the closely related Samson fish and amberjack.
- Juveniles are yellow overall with dark vertical bands; adults lose the bands and develop the full blue-and-silver colouration.
- Commonly encountered at 60–100 cm; fish over 130 cm and 20 kg are serious captures anywhere in Australia, with the largest recorded specimens reaching 2.5 m and close to 97 kg.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australian waters; distributed from North Reef in Queensland, around the entire southern coast including Tasmania, and up the west coast to around Shark Bay, WA.
- Pelagic to benthopelagic — adults school around deep rocky reefs, offshore pinnacles, headlands and offshore islands, typically in 0–50 m, though they've been taken below 300 m.
- Juveniles school in shallower coastal waters and sometimes push into estuaries and harbours; very small fish often shelter around floating debris well offshore.
- Also found around man-made structure — jetties, pylons, artificial reefs and wrecks — wherever baitfish concentrate.
Key Locations
- Port Phillip Heads (the Rip), Victoria — a tidal choke point that concentrates kings and is heavily targeted by local anglers.
- Portland and Western Port, Victoria — consistent kingfish grounds, particularly over summer.
- NSW coast from the Solitary Islands south to Jervis Bay — rocky reef country with reliable populations around offshore pinnacles and headlands.
- Steep Point and the Abrolhos Islands, WA — remote but known for large fish; Steep Point kings have a reputation for being particularly difficult to stop.
- South Australian waters around Spencer Gulf and the Yorke Peninsula — a growing kingfish fishery with fish accessible from both boat and shore.
Specific Spots
- Rocky reef edges and pinnacle tops hold fish because baitfish stack there; kings work the current breaks where prey gets swept off structure.
- Offshore islands and headlands with strong tidal flow concentrate both bait and kings — the Rip at Port Phillip Heads is a classic example of this kind of choke point.
- Jetty pylons, wrecks and artificial reefs in bays and harbours attract juvenile schools; the fish use the structure as cover when hunting.
- When kings are feeding near the surface, look for bird activity and bait schools pushed up from below — surface schools can appear suddenly and disappear just as fast.
Yellowtail Kingfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Yellowtail Kingfish?
Live baitfish, pilchards, yellowtail scad, slimy mackerel, are the most consistently effective presentation; fish them on a running sinker rig or under a float near structure.
What flies work for Yellowtail Kingfish?
Large baitfish streamers, Clouser Minnows (which imitate small baitfish) in white, chartreuse or blue/white, and Deceivers in similar colours, are the go-to patterns when kings are chasing pilchards or scad near the surface.
When is the best time to fish for Yellowtail Kingfish?
Summer (December–March) is peak season across most of the range, warmer water pushes fish into shallower coastal areas and increases surface feeding activity. Spring (September–November) sees fish moving inshore as water temperatures rise; a good time to find schooling fish before summer crowds arrive.
How do you catch Yellowtail Kingfish?
Most anglers target kings from boats, working offshore reefs, pinnacles and headlands with live bait, metal jigs or surface lures. Shore-based fishing from rocky headlands and jetties is productive for smaller fish, particularly juveniles schooling in bays and harbours.
What do Yellowtail Kingfish eat?
Kingfish eat smaller fish, pilchards, yellowtail scad, slimy mackerel and other baitfish make up the bulk of their diet, which is why live or fresh-dead baitfish presentations are so consistently effective.
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