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How to Catch Longtail Tuna on Lures

By Justin Willmer

The adrenaline gets pumping when a school of longtail tuna bust up around the boat, you make a cast into the school and then all hell breaks loose as a tuna eats your lure and commences one of those signature line burning and drag melting runs. Longtail tuna are a popular sportfish and also a quality table fish, if the fish is dispatched appropriately and bled, the flesh respected post catch and prepared in a suitable manner. If you are chasing fish for sport, fish heavy enough to land them quickly, minimise time out of the water and spear them back in on the release, alternatively if you wish to keep some for a feed, do your research on suitable recipes and cooking techniques for longtail tuna.

When & Where

Longtail tuna, also known as northern bluefin tuna, are sometimes confused with southern bluefin tuna, however they are more elongated in profile, especially in the tail wrist. They also don't reach the epic proportions of a southern bluefin, maxing out at around 130-150cm and 32kg, more commonly landed at 70-90cm and around the 15kg mark.

They are identifiable by the dark blue backs, short pectoral fins and long slender bodies, especially toward the tail section, along with colourless elongated oval spots, arranged in horizontal oriented rows along the lower sides of a silvery white belly. Generally distributed throughout the north of Australia, from Cockburn Sound in the west to southern NSW on the east coast, appearing more frequently in the southern extremes of their distribution during the summer months.

When chasing tuna I always look for the 3 B's, bust ups, birds and baitfish. Tuna are always on the move and so in turn they need to consume a lot of food, forcing schools of baitfish to the surface where they have nowhere to run. This attracts birds that feed on the bait, so keep an eye out for birds and I was once told that the height that the birds are above the water, is matched by the depth that the bait is below the surface. Birds holding higher are often following the bait and fish and will get closer to the water as the bait is forced to the surface, where absolute mayhem breaks loose as the tuna feed from below and the birds from above.

Keep an eye out for bait on your sounder and also visible bait on the surface that can often look like shimmering or rain on the surface. It can be worth spending time around the bait, fishing a variety of presentations throughout the water column in case there are fish feeding in the area. The most obvious sign that fish are feeding in the area is when they are busting up on the surface and if they are feeding actively like this... get a lure in there!

If only it was that easy however... as it turns out tuna can be both flighty and picky in terms of what they want to eat. It's all about 'matching the hatch' (matching the bait they are feeding on) and having a variety of lure options in your kit to try and tempt them.

Tuna can be here one minute and gone the next, popping up for seconds before disappearing and popping up a hundred metres away. Spend some time observing the birds and the movements of the tuna and you may be able to predict where they will pop up next. Tuna will often feed in a particular direction based on tidal movement and generally feed into the wind, allowing you to use the wind to bring you back onto the tuna, rather than motoring directly into the school. The wind also assists with long casts toward the school.

At times though you need to motor right up to the schools as they pop up and down, just to get a shot at them. Get a lure straight in there to have any chance of a hook up. If the fish are feeding more actively on the surface for a sustained period we will generally move into position to intercept them, kill the motor and drift back toward them with the wind or wait for them to come to us. If they are up and down then we will often idle as close as possible to the school, leave the motor idling and make a few quick casts. Try not to rev the motor up and down as this will spook the fish a lot more than a consistent idle.

Gearing Up

Like with most tuna species you need to be fishing with reasonable quality gear to handle the power and speed of their runs. You will also require enough line capacity on the reel to manage these runs and enough stopping power to end the fight quickly and avoid sharks and damage to the fish from prolonged fights if being released. During the fight changing the angle of the fight with the rod or boat positioning can reduce the chances of the fish entering a drawn out, deep spiralling vertical battle and you may also be able to stop this if it occurs by motoring away from the fish or again changing the angle of the boat.

Anglers will often spool their reels with quality 20-30lb braided line, such as Australian made Platypus Bionic Braid or P8, with a leader of around 40lb.

Good
Okuma Ceymar Inshore Spin Rods - C-IS-701MH Inshore 7' 10-20lb and Okuma Ceymar C-40, C-55 or C-65 Spinning Reel.

Better
Okuma Delta Spinning Rods - DLT-S-701ML 7' 6-10kg and Okuma Epixor XT EPXT-50 Spinning Reel.

Best
Okuma Azores Spinning Rod - Z-S-702M 7' 8-12kg and Okuma Azores 4000, 5500 or 6500 Spinning Reel.

Lure Selection

When it comes to lure selection for longtail tuna there are a variety of styles that will work and it's worth having a few different lure styles in the kit as they can be finicky at times. Three of the most popular styles for chasing tuna include metal lures, stickbaits and soft plastics.

Metal Lures

Metal Lures are also often referred to as slugs, metals and chromies, and they are basically a metal body around a through wire, with an attachment point at each end. One end is fixed to your leader, while the other end carries a split ring and hook, commonly a treble. This style of lure is popular for targeting longtail tuna because it allows you plenty of weight for casting, while also keeping the profile size of the lure down to match the tiny baitfish that tuna are often feeding on. It is often about 'matching the hatch' (matching the bait).

TT Lures Hard Core metal lures have long been popular with tuna anglers thanks to their compact profile for their weight, selection of popular weights for tuna (20, 30, 40g), proven action and their colour range that includes models with a realistic Micro Glitter Scale finish and subtle colour changes with blue, green, pink and black backs to match the mood of the fish on the day and the bait that they are feeding on.

When fishing metal lures it is often just a matter of casting ahead of the school or into the mayhem of a bust up and cranking the lure fast to represent a fleeing baitfish. If this doesn't attract their attention you can allow the lure to fall below the bust up, where a fish may eat it thinking it is a dead or injured fish sinking and there is often the possibility of picking up other species that are cleaning up dead and injured bait below the feeding frenzy.

Other retrieves that work include a burn and kill (wind and pause) if the straight burn (fast wind) is not triggering a strike. Metal lures are extremely versatile and can also be sunk to the desired depth when targeting bait or fish on the sunder, working past beacons and shipping channel markers or vertically jigging around bottom structure.

Stickbaits

Hard body stickbaits have been another go-to for tuna, including the Fish Inc. Lures 110mm Hooker and 120mm Wing and Right Wing, however it is the Fish Inc. Flanker that has proven itself time and again when the tuna are finicky and won't eat anything else. This narrow profile stickbait has been a game changer on longtail tuna, converting sessions without bites into double figure sessions, gaining it almost a cult following in longtail tuna hotspots such as Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay.

The Flanker is available in 85mm (19g) and 115mm (28g) so it casts long, is an excellent baitfish imitation, catches both on the sink and the retrieve and can be retrieved with a high speed burn, slower retrieve, burn and kill, or throw in a few rips and pauses, making it a versatile presentation for longtail tuna, along with mackerel, kingfish, trevally, salmon, tailor and other pelagic species.

Soft Plastics

Soft plastics are another effective option when chasing longtail tuna and in recent years they have become the go-to option for many anglers. ZMan 10X Tough ElaZtech plastics are capable of standing up to the aggressive strikes and sustained fights that are associated with tuna, with anglers landing multiple tuna on a single plastic and then moving on to use the same plastic to target reefies.

There are a few models that excel on tuna, including the ZMan 3.75" and 5" StreakZ, along with the 4" and 5" Scented Jerk ShadZ. The benefit with a plastic is that it sinks more naturally than heavier metal lures, allowing it to waft and glide naturally as it falls, realistically imitating a dead or dying baitfish. Many tuna have been hooked casting into a bust up and just allowing the plastic to sink into the mayhem, where it is quickly cleaned up by a tuna, your rod buckles and it is game on!

The ZMan 5" StreakZ features a pin tail (single tail) design that has a tight shimmy in the tail when retrieved at speed, resembling a rapidly fleeing baitfish, and it has proven dynamite on tuna. It is likely that this plastic has accounted for more longtail tuna than any other, with standout colours including Bubble Gum, Pearl, Baby Bass and Smokey Shad. We generally rig this plastic on a TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jighead in 1/2oz, 3/4oz and 1oz weights and a 5/0 or 6/0 size hook. Again, this plastic is extremely versatile and can be fished at almost any retrieve speed, with the tail virtually impossible to keep still.

If the bait is smaller the ZMan 3.75" StreakZ comes into its own and again fish will often eat it on the drop (as it sinks) into a feeding frenzy or when fish are feeding in the area. It can then be retrieved with a fast wind, burn and kill or mix it up with some twitches and pauses. This tiny plastic has accounted for some monster longtail tuna, rigged on a 1/4oz or 3/8oz 2/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jighead.

The two previously mentioned plastics are probably the go-to options, however the ZMan 4" and 5" Scented Jerk ShadZ have also accounted for more than their fair share of longtails, while also being a perfect plastic in your kit for other species, such as snapper, sweetlip, coral trout, trevally and other reef and pelagic species. Scented Jerk ShadZ come in a comprehensive range of colours, with the 4" a perfect smaller baitfish imitation that is also deadly in the rivers and estuaries, while the 5" Scented Jerk ShadZ is one of the most versatile offshore plastics that you can have in your kit. We generally rig the 4" on a 4/0 and the 5" on a 5/0 or 6/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jighead.

Lure Colour

When it comes to longtail tuna there seems to be two go-to colour types, natural baitfish and pinks. Natural baitfish colours that match what the fish are feeding on are the best starting point, such as clear and white colours, with green, black, blue or silver elements that match the bait. Go-to colours in the ZMan range include Pearl, Pearl Blue Glimmer, Opening Night, Bad Shad, Shiner, Baby Bass and Smokey Shad.

I'm not 100% sure why pink is another proven colour for tuna, however it is definitely worth having some in your kit, with the ZMan Bubble Gum colour another with a cult following among harcore tuna anglers. The ZMan 5" StreakZ in Bubble Gum has accounted for way more than its fair share of tuna! Other pinks in the ZMan range include Coconut Ice Glow and Laguna Shrimp.

Jigheads

When it comes to jigheads for tuna it's all about a combination of penetration and stopping power.

TT Lures HeadlockZ HD - There is no doubt that the go-to jighead for targeting longtail tuna is the TT Lures HeadlockZ HD because they are quality, reliable, proven, brutally strong and chemically sharpened, along with the unique 'head lock' keeper design, with a gap between the grub keeper and head to make rigging ZMan's ElaZtech plastics simple and lock them in place on the jighead. There is a comprehensive range of HeadlockZ HD jighead hook and weight combinations to cover all applications and these are your best starting point if you wish to take on a tuna.

TT Lures Big EyeZ - The soon to be released (Oct 2019) TT Lures Big EyeZ jigheads are built on the same heavy duty Mustad black nickel chemically sharpened hook as the HeadlockZ HD, along with the 'head lock' keeper system, however they feature a hand painted head and large eyes. When it comes to finicky tuna I can see these being dynamite, with the colour range designed to either match your favourite plastics, the bait the fish are feeding on or offer a contrast to that plastic that will 'pop' in the water and trigger strikes from active fish. Many believe the eye is also a strike trigger, so we're sure to see the Big EyeZ jigheads popping up in plenty of longtail tuna photos.

RevlockZ - A left field option that can switch on a bite, RevlockZ feature the 'head lock' keeper system and Mustad heavy duty black nickel chemically sharpened hooks found in the HeadlockZ HD range, with the addition of a spinning blade mounted on the underside of the jighead to create flash and vibration, along with a tapered head design to control the torque of the blade. This additional flash and vibration can be all that's needed to attract the attention of fish and trigger strikes. Blade options include nickel (silver) and brass (gold) in both willow and Colorado blades. The Colorado blade is rounder, spins at slower speeds and will create more lift, while the willow blade is narrower and allows the jighead to run faster and deeper.

Scent

I am a serial scenter and happy to admit it as I believe that adding a squirt of Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent maximises your chances of catching fish. You can throw a lot of casts at times before tempting a tuna, so I want to ensure that my presentation is swimming well, looks good and smells like food, making the most of the 10X Tough, super-soft and flexible ZMan plastic and the real ground bait, powerful amino acids, bite stimulants and UV enhancement found in the Pro-Cure scent.

The other positive with adding scent is that I believe it attracts a wide variety of other species, so while I am targeting tuna I am not going to complain if I allow my plastic to sink below a bust up or bait ball and it is eaten by a reef or pelagic species. Apply a small squirt of scent to each side of the head of the plastic and smear it right down to the tip of the tail every 30 casts or so. Favourite flavours for targeting tuna and other offshore species include Sardine/Pilchard, Bloody Tuna, Mullet and Inshore Saltwater.

Land Based Tips

Longtail tuna can be landed from the shore, with anglers generally fishing from rocky headlands, islands and beaches that punch out into deeper water and warmer ocean currents. Remember safety first at all times when fishing in these locations and never turn your back on the ocean.

Again, bait, birds and bust ups are often signs that fish are in the area, so keep your eyes peeled and get your lure in there. Generally anglers fishing this type of water will be targeting a variety of species that may include longtail tuna and other tuna species, mackerel, kingfish, trevally, mulloway and a variety of reef species that may move in to feed around the rocks and wash.

Do your research in more detail on how to effectively fish this type of structure safely, ensure you have the safety gear that you require, multiple means of communication and where possible fish with other anglers. A longtail tuna or other species from the stones can be a trophy capture, but remember safety first.

Landing & Handling

Longtail tuna fight hard and don't give up, which can lead to sustained battles. Fish heavy enough to control the fish and the fight, land the fish quickly to minimise the chances of being sharked and to ensure a healthy release, if the fish is being returned to the water. When fighting longtail tuna, if they dive deep, slugging it out in circles below the boat, drive the boat away from them to change the angle, bring them back up and break the sustained vertical battle.

Fish can be gaffed, netted or tail grabbed, remembering to keep hands clear of the teeth and lure. Also remember that fish will often shake violently when removed from the water, so if handling them for a photo and release hold them firmly with wet hands, secure the tail wrist and support the belly, snap a quick photo and then spear them back into the water to get that water flowing back through the gills and help them on their way again.

There's no doubt that longtail tuna are a fantastic sportfish, quality capture and make for a great fish photo or a tasty feed if looked after and prepared correctly. At times they can be a frustrating opponent, so hopefully the info provided here and a few go-to lures can help you get hooked up to a longtail, or the array of species that will respond to these lures and techniques. If you hook one be prepared for a wild ride, bent rod and screaming drag.

All the best with the fishing
Justin Willmer