Species report trend

Yellowtail Kingfish Fishing Reports

Seriola lalandi

Yellowtail Kingfish fishing activity is based upon real fishing reports collected over a decade, by Getfished. It represents an overview of all reports. With 261 reports across 60 reported locations, the dataset helps show longer-term fishing patterns rather than isolated catches.

Saltwater Check local regulations

Yellowtail Kingfish Seasonal pattern Report activity is strongest through summer, with autumn also contributing a notable share of reports. Activity is lower through winter.

Yellowtail Kingfish Bait and lure signal Reported bait patterns commonly include Live baits, Live bait and Squid. Lure reports are led by Poppers, Stickbaits and Sluggos.

Dataset context These patterns reflect observed report behaviour across time and locations. They highlight trends and tendencies, not guaranteed fishing outcomes.

Fishing rules "Some states have semi permantent restrictions on fishing for certain species, including Yellowtail Kingfish. Check local regulations before you fish."

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Report patterns

Yellowtail Kingfish report signals

Derived from fishing report data

Bait and lure patterns

These percentages show the share of bait and lure mentions found in reports for this species. They reflect observed report patterns, not universal recommendations.

Reported bait

Fresh squid 7.2%

Live bait 11.6%

Live slimy mackerel 7.2%

Squid 8.7%

Live baits 14.5%

Calamari 4.3%

Live squid 2.9%

Slimy mackerel 2.9%

Squid strip 2.9%

Squid strips 5.8%

Yakkas 4.3%

Fresh or live squid 1.4%

Reported lures

Stickbaits 20.5%

Poppers 21.7%

Sluggos 17.1%

Knife jigs 8.5%

Jigs 7.0%

Topwater lures 2.3%

White ocky skirts 1.2%

Gulp 7 jerk shads 0.8%

Knife jig 0.8%

Occy skirts 0.8%

Stick baits 0.8%

Surface lures 1.2%

Seasonal report pattern

This shows when yellowtail kingfish reports appear across Australian seasons. Shares are based only on reports with parseable dates.

Autumn and summer show the strongest reporting activity, with reduced reports during winter.

Note: seasonal patterns may be influenced by factors such as reporting bias, species behavior, and environmental conditions.

Summer 69.7%

Autumn 25.7%

Winter 1.5%

Spring 3.1%

Reported yellowtail kingfish locations

These locations come from report records. Linked locations have matching Getfished location pages.

The Rip

44

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Queenscliff RIP

22

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Barwon Heads Offshore

14

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Julia Percy Island

10

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Offshore (Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads)

8

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Charlemont Reef

6

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Ocean Grove Offshore

6

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Offshore

4

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Point Lonsdale

4

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Port Fairy

4

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

St Helens

4

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Welshpool

3

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Anglesea

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Barwon Heads 20-50m

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Barwon Heads 30m

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Barwon Heads 50m

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Barwon Heads Offshore 35m

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Bluff Of Barwon Heads

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Cape Schanck

2

Reported in fishing data but not yet mapped to a Getfished location page.

Yellowtail Kingfish Fishing Guide

Yellowtail kingfish are powerful semi-pelagic saltwater fish found around southern Australian coastlines from Shark Bay in WA around to central Queensland, including Tasmania. The source places them in warm-temperate water, preferring about 17-24 degrees, with Australian timing varying by state. In Victoria, the peak is late December to late March, with Port Phillip Heads, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port identified as key kingfish areas.

Juveniles are pelagic and can school around floating structure such as marker buoys or mussel farms, while adults are more solitary and can use deeper coastal water. Kingfish are usually linked to high-current or tidal environments with reefs, pinnacles, headlands and underwater structure, but they also enter bays, harbours, estuaries and sandy areas when baitfish are present. Spring to autumn is the broad season, with January to April a peak period in many areas.

Tactics include live baiting, jigging and topwater casting. Live baits such as jack mackerel, yakka and piper suit average fish, while larger live baits are used for bigger models where supported. Jigs are worked vertically with fast or erratic action, and topwater stickbaits or poppers can be cast around bait schools, current and structure. Boat positioning and drag pressure matter because hooked kingfish often head straight for hard terrain.

Where juveniles gather around floating structure, avoid driving through the school. Around reefs and headlands, present baits or lures up-current so they reach the structure naturally.

Gear must be strong. The source supports 15-37kg line or braid, leaders from at least 80lb up to 130lb, and 7/0-12/0 heavy-gauge hooks for live baiting. Heavy tackle is not optional around reefs, headlands, current and large fish. State rules differ, and size and bag limits apply across Australia, so check Victorian, NSW, Queensland, WA or Tasmanian rules for the water being fished.

Have a landing plan before the hookup, because kingfish fought too lightly near reef, mussel farms, markers or headlands often end the fight on structure.

Check your local state fishing authority website for current yellowtail kingfish size, bag and rule changes.

Explore more Fishing Reports.

Yellowtail Kingfish is also known as:

Kingfish, Kingie, Hoodlum, Silver King, Southern Yellowtail, Tasmanian Yellowtail, Yellowtail Amberjack, Bandit, Australian Kingfish, Haku (Māori), Kingi, Hiramasa.