Southern Bluefin Tuna
Offshore / BluewaterSouthern bluefin tuna (SBT) are the south coast's blue-water prize — running off Albany, Esperance and Bremer Bay through the cooler months. Hard-fighting barrels, world-class sashimi, counted within the large-pelagic bag of 3.
Southern bluefin tuna are the south coast's marquee gamefish, running the deep water off Albany, Bremer Bay and Esperance from autumn into winter. The continental shelf swings close to shore along this coast, so SBT are reachable on a settled day from a trailer boat with the range and the weather window to match. Fish of 10–25kg are the staple, with bigger barrels a genuine chance. They feed hard along the shelf and the canyons, often with whales, dolphins and birds marking the bait. SBT are an internationally quota-managed stock that has been rebuilding for years — they fish better now than they have in a generation.
Skipping garfish and pilchards in a trolling spread, live slimy mackerel where you can get them, cube trails of pilchard on the drift
Skirted trolling lures (Pakula, Richter) in a spread of 5–7, deep-diving minnows (Rapala X-Rap Magnum), chrome slugs cast at surface schools
Game gear — 15–24kg overhead outfits, or heavy spin (14000 reel, 65–80lb braid) for casting. 100–130lb fluorocarbon or mono leader, quality crimps, strong single hooks on the skirts. This is open-water southern-ocean fishing; gear failure costs you the fish of the trip.
Troll a skirt-and-diver spread along the shelf edge, the canyons and current lines off Albany and Esperance, watching the sounder for bait and the horizon for birds and whales. When schools surface, cast slugs or stickbaits ahead of them. A drifting cube trail will draw fish to the boat. Pick your weather — the south coast turns on fast, and the SBT grounds are no place to be caught out.
March through July is the south-coast window, with the cooler months the most consistent. Settled high-pressure weather between fronts is what makes the offshore grounds fishable.
Commonly 10–25kg 'barrels' off the south coast; larger fish possible
Autumn–winter (Mar–Jul) off the south coast
Yes — southern bluefin is among the finest eating tuna in the world: rich, fatty, deep-red flesh that is prized for sashimi and sears superbly. Bleed, spike and ice the fish immediately to protect that quality. The belly flap (toro) is the prize cut. A well-handled SBT is restaurant-grade fish straight off your own boat.
No minimum size. Southern bluefin tuna count within WA's large pelagic finfish TOTAL mixed bag of 3 per fisher (statewide). SBT are an internationally quota-managed, recovering stock — handle them carefully and keep only what you'll genuinely use. A Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) is required when fishing from a powered boat. Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.
Albany, Bremer Bay and Esperance are the launch points — all need a capable boat and a genuine weather window. Watch for whales and bird activity, which mark the bait the tuna are working. Carry a brine slurry, not just ice; SBT are too good to waste through poor handling. Keep what you'll eat and release the rest carefully — the stock is still rebuilding.