Tuna fishing isn’t just a day on the water it’s a full-throttle, adrenaline-pumping adventure. It’s many an angler’s goal to catch Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) as one of Australia’s most iconic sportfish, known for its blistering speed, brute strength, and unpredictable strikes. Whether you’re trolling offshore or casting lures near headlands, here’s how to gear up and fish smart for these oceanic beasts.
Southern Bluefin Tuna are the ultimate offshore challenge. In this guide, VTackle breaks down where to find them, how to troll and cast effectively, and what gear you’ll need to land these powerful predators. Get ready for the fight of your life.
🌊 Where to Find Them
Southern bluefin tuna migrate along Australia’s southern coastline, following bait schools and ocean currents. You’ll find them:
20–30m deep near rocky headlands
Beyond the continental shelf in deep blue water
Around areas rich in pilchards, sauries, and squid
Seasonal factors, wind direction, and sea surface temperature play a huge role in their location. Late summer and autumn are prime time off SA and VIC coasts.
🛥️ How to Search for Tuna
Check local fishing reports before heading out
Look for diving birds, sonar marks, or jumping fish
Use sea surface temperature charts to find warm breaks
If all else fails, troll skirts and deep-diving lures to cover ground to catch Southern Bluefin Tuna
💥 Be ready—SBT often strike without warning, turning a quiet troll into chaos in seconds.
🎣 Techniques to Catch Them
Once you’re on the fish, mix up your tactics:
Trolling: Skirts, bibbed minnows, and deep divers
Casting: Stickbaits and poppers into surface bust-ups
Jigging: Vertical metal jigs for deeper schools
Cubing: Create a berley trail with cut pilchards to hold fish
Each method has its moment—adapt to the conditions and fish behaviour.
💪 Tackle & Gear
SBT are serious fighters. Match your gear to the size of the fish:
Spin tackle (30–50lb braid) for school-sized tuna
Heavy overhead setups (80–130lb) for barrel-class fish
Fluorocarbon leaders (100lb+) for abrasion resistance
Harnesses and gimbals for long fights offshore
VTackle stocks everything from trolling rigs to casting setups—plus the burley and bait to keep tuna in your zone.
📍 Gear Up at VTackle
Whether you’re chasing barrels off Portland or school tuna near Port MacDonnell, VTackle has the gear, advice, and bait to get you hooked up.
🛒 Explore gear 👉 vtackle.com.au 📸 Tag your catch with #BluefinTuna and #VTackle to be featured!
