If you're chasing proper rod-bending action this winter, longtail tuna are well worth rugging up for. When the cooler months roll in, these speedsters spend less time busting up on the surface and start feeding deeper around bait schools, reef and drop-offs.
In this session, Nige hits the big blue with his son Lachie to chase longies, also known as northern bluefin tuna. The boys run live baits, dead baits and metal slugs, proving a few different options can make all the difference when targeting winter tuna. Before you head out, make sure your tackle box is loaded with the essentials.
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Why winter longtail tuna fishing works
Longtail tuna can be proper fussy in summer when they’re feeding on top. You can fire casts into surface bust-ups all day long and still watch them ignore every lure in the box, which is enough to test anyone’s patience.
Winter changes the game. Instead of charging around on the surface, the fish often hold deeper in the water column and feed around bait schools in more stable water temps. That makes a mix of bait and fast-sinking fishing lures well worth having rigged and ready.
Look for areas holding plenty of bait, especially around reef, rubble, drop-offs or midwater pelagic marks. If there’s life showing on your fish finder and the bait is stacked up, there’s a good chance longtail tuna won’t be far behind.
Find bait and fish the zone
Your sounder is your best mate here. Once you’ve marked bait or fish moving through, pay close attention to the depth they’re holding and set your baits accordingly rather than just dropping them to the bottom and hoping for the best.
In the video, the fish are showing around the 20-metre mark. That means you want to send your bait down to where the fish are actually moving, whether that’s a livey, a dead bait or a lure counted down to the right depth.
Once you’ve found a likely patch, holding position can make a big difference. An electric motor helps keep your baits in the zone, so you’re not drifting straight past the fish before they’ve had a chance to chew. If the bait schools are tight and the fish are hanging nearby, staying on top of the action can be the difference between one bite and a proper session.
Rigs, baits and lures to try
Some days longtail tuna will climb all over a live bait. Other days, a dead bait, float-lined bait or metal slug will get the job done. Having a few options rigged and ready helps you stay one step ahead when the fish show up and they’re feeling hungry.
Live bait rig
For live baiting, a simple ball sinker rig with around 60cm to 1m of trace down to your hooks is the way to go. It’s enough weight to get the bait into the zone while still letting it swim naturally, which is exactly what you want when longies are sounding under the boat.
Wire trace is worth running through winter, especially with school mackerel, spotted mackerel and the odd Spaniard still kicking around. The beauty is that longtail tuna in the cooler months usually aren’t too shy around wire, so you can cover tuna and mackerel on the same drift without too many dramas.
Dead bait and float-lining
Float-lining is a handy option when longies are sitting deeper. A lightly weighted dead bait can drift down naturally through the water column and stay in the strike zone without looking too suspicious.
The trick is using just enough weight to reach the fish. Too much lead and the bait loses that natural sink, which can make all the difference when the bite is a little slower. A solid length of leader line gives you the abrasion resistance needed when fish are circling under the boat or brushing past other pelagics in the mix.
Metal slugs
A metal slug is always worth keeping rigged and ready. They cast a mile, sink quickly and are perfect for working through fish that are showing midwater or pushing bait around the boat.
Cast ahead of the action, count it down to the depth you’re marking fish, then work it back through the school at a brisk pace. When a longtail climbs on at speed, you’ll know all about it — screaming reels, bent rods and a proper workout from start to finish.
Gear for winter longtail tuna
The setup in the video keeps things fun without being under-gunned. A 20–50lb spin outfit is a solid choice for live baiting, while a 15–30lb setup suits float-lining or throwing lighter offerings when the fish are being a bit fussy.
When it comes to line, 30lb braid line with a 50lb leader is a great shout. It gives you enough stopping power for longtail tuna while still making the fight sporty. It’s also a handy middle ground when tuna, mackerel and other pelagics could all cruise through the same patch.
Drag pressure is worth keeping smooth, especially near the boat. Longies are famous for those big circling runs, so patience goes a long way. Lock up too hard and you can pull hooks, but fish too light and you’ll drag the fight out longer than it needs to be.
Make the most of the bite window
Longtail tuna often move in packs, so once one fish eats, there’s a fair chance the rest of the school isn’t far behind. After a hook-up, get another bait back in the zone quickly and keep one rod ready to fire a lure if the fish push through again.
Most of the fish in this session are solid school-size longtail around 4–8kg, which makes for unreal sport on lighter spin gear and a cracking feed if you’re taking one home. Stay switched on, watch the bait, keep checking your sounder and be ready to adapt as the fish change depth or mood.
Keen to give winter longies a crack? Head into your local BCF store and grab the gear you need, from bait rigs and terminal tackle through to fresh fishing lures for the next bite window.
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BCFing Experts
The BCFing Experts have done more than their fair share of boating, camping, fishing, hiking, four-wheel driving and much much more! Whether you're tackling tough tracks in Tassie or chasing big barra up North, the BCFing Experts have the know-how to make your next outdoor adventure a pearler
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