Yellowfin tuna
Yellowfin tuna in South East Queensland: no size limit, 20 per person, no closed season. Rules checked 8 Oct 2026. Best months SEQ-wide: March to May and September to October.
Updated
Scientific name: Thunnus albacares. Also called yellowfin and YFT.
| Scientific name | Thunnus albacares |
|---|---|
| Other names | yellowfin, YFT |
| Minimum size | None |
| Bag (possession) limit | 20 per person |
| Closed season in SEQ | None |
| Best months (SEQ-wide) | Mar–May and Sep–Oct |
| Also in season | Jun, Aug and Nov |
| Best tide | No clear tide preference |
| Best light | Dawn and dusk |
| Habitats | Bluewater (FADs and the shelf) |
| Access | Mostly a boat fishery |
Yellowfin tuna size and bag limit in QLD
Not listed on the tidal limits page: no size limit, general possession limit of 20.
Checked 8 Oct 2026 against the Queensland Government pages: size and possession limits and closed seasons.
Limits are possession limits: they count everything you hold, including any at home in the freezer. In yellow (conservation park) zones: max 2 lines and 2 hooks in total per angler. Green zones: no fishing. All QLD fishing rules
When to catch yellowfin tuna in South East Queensland
October 2026: Yellowfin tuna is in its peak season across South East Queensland.
| Where | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEQ-wide | January: off season | February: off season | March: peak season | April: peak season | May: peak season | June: in season | July: off season | August: in season | September: peak season | October: peak season | November: in season | December: off season |
- peak season
- in season
- off season
- closed season for at least part of the month
Tide: Not tide-driven; reports tie them to current lines and the 21-24 °C thermocline.
Time of day: Early morning and when birds are working.
Weather: not fussy about wind; rain makes little difference.
Seasons partly come from Coastwatch report mentions, not catch numbers.
| Area | How common | Best | Also in season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore Sunshine Coast | Occasional | No season given | – |
| Offshore Moreton | Also caught | Mar–May and Sep–Oct | Jun, Aug and Nov |
| Offshore Gold Coast | Main area | Mar–May and Sep–Oct | Jun, Aug and Nov |
Not in our guide for Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Pumicestone Passage & Bribie, Northern Moreton Bay, Western Moreton Bay, Brisbane River, Southern Moreton Bay, Moreton Island, Straddie & Jumpinpin and Gold Coast.
Where to catch yellowfin tuna in SEQ
The continental shelf and canyons off the Gold Coast (about 800-1,200 m), the shelf off Cape Moreton and South Passage, and occasionally out wide of the Barwon Banks. Heavy bluewater trips only.
Yellowfin tuna is mostly a boat fishery in South East Queensland.
Catch Signal forecast areas that rate yellowfin tuna: Offshore: Cape Moreton & Point Lookout, Offshore: Gold Coast.
| Spot | Area | Tide times |
|---|---|---|
| FAD 1 Gold Coast 24s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| FAD 6 Bribie offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| FAD 12 Gold Coast 36s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| FAD 17 Cape Moreton offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| FAD 3 Gold Coast 36s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| FAD 16 Moreton offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
| FAD 14 Gold Coast 36s | Offshore: Gold Coast | Gold Coast Seaway |
| FAD 4 Stradbroke offshore | Offshore: Cape Moreton and Point Lookout | Brisbane Bar |
Picked because the water each spot reaches suits yellowfin tuna (our habitat match), not from catch reports. Each spot links to its place on the area page; tide times are for the place our forecast reads for that spot.
How to catch yellowfin tuna: best baits, lures and rig
Baits
- Cubed pilchards and live slimy mackerel
Lures
- Trolled skirts and divers
- Poppers and stickbaits on surface schools
Yellowfin tuna rig
15-37 kg gear, 80-130 lb leader.
Good to know about yellowfin tuna
Coastwatch mentions on the Gold Coast cluster in Mar-May and Sep-Oct.
Open in the forecast
See yellowfin tuna in the Catch Signal app: seasons for the area you fish, closed-season warnings and the best days this week.
Sources
- Queensland Government: size and possession limits for tidal waters (last updated 25 Sep 2026; checked 8 Oct 2026)
- Queensland Government fish species guide (entries updated Mar-May 2026)
- Coastwatch weekly reports (seasons from report mentions, not catch numbers; we use the facts only)
Rules are short, dated summaries: always check the official pages before you keep a fish. Species notes are in our own words from the sources listed.