SA Bluefin Tuna Trip Report

Got the weather gods onside so Monday we went out wide from Cape Jervis SA heading south past The Pages. Had a bit of a look around the Threshold Bank but no schools visible so continued south to Saunders Bank. Once there saw a few birds diving and small bustups so lures out.

About 15min or so later hooked up and reeled in a nice bluefin around 15kg. 15 min later another hookup on a dropoff. got colour and noted it was a kingie so a nice by catch. Bit more trolling but nothing happening so headed a bit further south following the 50m line.

Skipper was tired so handed the wheel to me so he could grab some kip. 5 min later I told him to get off his arse as tuna were busting up all over the place directly ahead. trolled around them a few times but no takers.

Noted the baitfish were all around an inch long so tied on a slim profile lure onto my 30lb outfit and cast this to the edge of the school. Third cast landed around a foot from the bust up. reeled fast them saw a tuna breakaway and chase down the lure grabbing it off the surface. about 15 minutes later boated a decent tuna of around 25kilos or so.

Still busting up so started to throw out pieces of pilchard and next thing there all around the boat. Pilchard with a hook in goes over and we're on again. dropped a couple and then managed to get another tuna around 25kg or so on board. By this time we are both stuffed and the cooler is chockas so decided to head in to clean the fish and head back home. Great weather and all in all a good day and the freezer is full. Will put up some go-pro footage once I get the chance to edit it. Cheers

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Youtube Channel  -  FishOnLine Productions

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos


Alan James's picture

Posts: 2223

Date Joined: 30/06/09

Nice Paul

Thu, 2014-02-20 13:19

For some reason we only seem to get the smaller models in Perth waters. Jealous as.

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Paul H's picture

Posts: 2104

Date Joined: 18/01/07

I was stoked myself - my PB

Thu, 2014-02-20 13:37

I was stoked myself - my PB tuna to date. Sizes here vary a bit, we had heard the bigger ones had moved on and smaller ones were still about but found otherwise!!

Just put carbontex washers in my 30lb snapper reel a few weeks beforehand - I now know they work well!!

Was in my mates Markham Dominator that you gave some good info a few years back re transducer placement. Thanks again for that.

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Youtube Channel  -  FishOnLine Productions

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos

paul83's picture

Posts: 97

Date Joined: 13/12/12

Nice

Thu, 2014-02-20 13:20

Some real nice looking fish there and good report to go with it

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Pick it up, put it down....

big john's picture

Posts: 8749

Date Joined: 20/07/06

Awesome

Thu, 2014-02-20 17:54

Great fishing Paul!

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Paul H's picture

Posts: 2104

Date Joined: 18/01/07

Forgot the last Tuna I caught

Thu, 2014-02-20 18:38

Forgot the last Tuna I caught was foul hooked in the tail and took a while to get it to the boat. Arms were a bit shot when lifting it for the pic. :-)

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Youtube Channel  -  FishOnLine Productions

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos

Lamby's picture

Posts: 3145

Date Joined: 04/08/09

'match the hatch' good fish,

Thu, 2014-02-20 18:41

'match the hatch' good fish, cheers for the report