Bluefin Tuna Migration along the Australian Coast

As winter approaches, many game fishermen eagerly anticipate the Bluefin season, with impressive catches already reported in South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. Along the East Coast, game fishermen are waiting for the big bluefin tuna to arrive. Commercial fishermen have already begun making significant catches just south of the Victorian/NSW border, including Northern Pacific bluefin tuna, which are closely related to Southern bluefin but grow much larger. A few fish have already been caught in Southern NSW, including a mix of yellowfin and bigeye tuna. The water temperature off the south coast is around 20 degrees, and a large eddy of warm water off Ulladulla is finally cooling down, with some cooler water just north of it, near Sydney, which should start producing some bluefin in the coming weeks. Reports from the commercial tuna fishing fleet suggest this year will see a massive bluefin run. Additionally, there has been a significant catch of albacore, which is a welcome bycatch for recreational fishermen. Keep an eye out for bluefin in the next few weeks as far north as Sydney.