queensland Any Tips On Catching Longtail Tuna?

[allblacks]

Hi guys I'm new to this site. I have a 4.3m allycraft with a 50hp on the back. I've been fishing the northern bay for the last 4 months with great success. Plenty of big kingfish, jewfish,snapper,spanish mackerel, and managed a 30kg cobia last week. One fish I haven't managed to figure out yet is the longtail tuna. I've tried casting numerous softbaits,stickbaits, metals in all sizes but haven't managed a bite. Can anyone share any tips with me on how to catch these timid fish? I'm thinking they may be feeding on very small baitfish and that's why I'm not getting any bites..I may need to wait to a different time of year when they start feeding on bigger baitfish.

 

 

[Luke Landrunner]

Great catches there mate.

Search for the thread called Longtail Tuna tips and tricks for heaps of info.Sorry I can't give you the direct link but someone will if you can't find it.

[Cobiaaddict]

Good solid fish mate,

I find most of my big long tails I have hooked and caught over the years have always come on live baits in similar areas you are fishing  and Generally have been during winter when float-lining for snapper on the ledges and bay wrecks.

 

 

 

 

[allblacks]

Cheers guys I'll try search for some threads. Trying to work my way around this site. Next trip I will prob try a small livebait , small circle hook. Light fluorocarbon. 100 metres out the back of the boat and try slow trolling it around the school. See how I go.

[Drop Bear]

Hey mate this is the thread that Luke was referring to;

I'd love to hear more about how you are catching the cobia and kingies! They are crackers. 

[allblacks]

Thanks drop bear. Great thread. I've tried all of those methods with no luck. Maybe I just need to persevere.

As for the Kingis and Cobia mate. I set 4 rods out with a variety of livebaits out. Yakkas,slimys,herring,pike, and garfish. Fish 50lb braid and 100lb leader. Fish any lighter and you will get smoked. I lost my first 10 fish because of that. The kingis are experts on getting you to the wreck or reef.

Tides are the key. I like 1hour before and after the tide. Slack tide has been very successful for me. Can't decide whether I like high or low tide the best yet. Catch them on both. Anytime of day. Prefer days that are close to the new moon.

As for location I have spots from tangalooma up to comboyuro point. Patience is important. Some days I may only get 1 shot at the school after fishing the whole day. But have had multiple quadruple,  triple,and double strikes..

Hope these tips help.

[The Mad Hughesy]

do you just jig the live baits at curtain? or grab them from the beacons along the way

great fish btw, i may pick your brain in the coming weeks as im planning a trip to curtain soon

[allblacks]

Hey Chris. I start at the measured mile and jig all the beacons on the way until I have a variety of 20 baits or so.. The bigger the livey the better. I like to keep a half bucket of small baitfish to start cubing when the current starts dropping off also..Good luck.

[Luvit]

You have got the bay sussed already, Trophy fish.

If you're on FB search Longtail tuna fishing queensland, it has lots of information. Search for  post around this time of the year.

It was started by a old memeber user name samsteele115. He and I used to fish together a lot chasing LT's in Northern Moreton Bay.

There are just some days where the bait is to small to imitate unless you are using a fly.

But also if they are on small stuff and you can not match the hatch, we have thrown the polar opposite and had hits with large surface stick baits and poppers.

Just keep mixing it up till something works.

We had our most success with Soft Plastics.

 

 

[allblacks]

Cheers luvit. I'll hit that FB link up for sure. I have been using zerek 115g sinking stick baits. Numerous 4-5 inch softbaits on a 1/2 ,5/8 jigheads. Damiki metals. I might go down to bcf and pick me up a popper for something different. I will definitely be putting in the hours to get one of them over the next few months. Thanks for the help..

[Luvit]

Don't be afraid to go in Sp size. I've had the same frustration on many occasions and keep down sizing till you get a hit.

Typically I start with a 3/8 or 1/2 jig head rigged with a 4.75" jerk shad, If that doesn't work down to a 3.75" jerk shad, then down to a 2 and half inch on a 1/4 jig head.

Of course the smaller you go the closer you have to get but that all apart of it.

This is what I did this day to get a hit.

 

[kmcrosby78]

Cracking kings and cobia there mate and thanks for sharing a few tips. Good luck on the hunt for longies - I've only ever caught one and that was on a pillie on ganged hooks (after the school had gone down) so you never know, as the others said just keep changing it up until something works  

[Drop Bear]

19 hours ago, allblacks said:

Thanks drop bear. Great thread. I've tried all of those methods with no luck. Maybe I just need to persevere.

As for the Kingis and Cobia mate. I set 4 rods out with a variety of livebaits out. Yakkas,slimys,herring,pike, and garfish. Fish 50lb braid and 100lb leader. Fish any lighter and you will get smoked. I lost my first 10 fish because of that. The kingis are experts on getting you to the wreck or reef.

Tides are the key. I like 1hour before and after the tide. Slack tide has been very successful for me. Can't decide whether I like high or low tide the best yet. Catch them on both. Anytime of day. Prefer days that are close to the new moon.

As for location I have spots from tangalooma up to comboyuro point. Patience is important. Some days I may only get 1 shot at the school after fishing the whole day. But have had multiple quadruple,  triple,and double strikes..

Hope these tips help.

Awesome tip thanks mate.