Information About the Southern Bluefin Tuna

Online, March 11, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Classification

The species of Blue Fin Tuna we fish for is the southern Blue Fin Tuna (Thunnus Maccoyii) and it is a part of the Scombridae family.
Size

The fish can range in size but it is rare to find specimens above 100kgs and over 2m in length. The majority of fish caught recreationally are between 0.5m and 1m in length.
Physiology

The body of the fish is extremely streamlined with short strong fins (dorsal, pectoral and anal) and fine scales to reduce drag. They can swim very fast and dive to depths of 500m.
Season / Migration

The best time of year to fish for Blue Fin Tuna is between the months of March and July when the migratory fish makes its way around the southern waters of Australia. Tasmania and New Zealand also have charter operators who target this fish around their respective coastlines. A great map of their territory can be found here.
Conservation

Catch limits worldwide are regulated by a central body, The Commission for the Conservation of the Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). Australia uses a combination of hard-line and purse seine methods for commercial fishing. Recreation fishing only accounts for a fraction of the amount fished in our waters commercially. Strict bag limits and regulation of operators helps conserve this fish for future generations.

More information on conservation can be found here at CCSBT's website http://www.ccsbt.org/site/index.php
Diet

Because the Bluefin Tuna is carnivorous its diet primarily consists of other fish (pilchards, saurys etc) but they also favour squid and krill depending on their size.
Best Bait to Use

We can't reveal all our secrets but we have had a lot of success with a range of lures. Steve the skipper knows all the best spots and techniques to catch this fish so you can sit back and trust in the team to give you the best chance at catching that monster! Due to popular demand we have some basic fishing tips for you here.