Bluefin Battle

[Holy_Mackerel]

This is my favourite fish of all. We went specifically chasing the Northern Bluefin Aus record, sportfishing class in ANSA. Had to beat 17 kg on 4 kg line.
Hooked up at 8:30 am just 25 metres off the rocks, and quickly gave chase. Fought him as hard as possible for a full 5 hours and finally landed him 15 km offshore, 19 km from the hookup point at 1:30 pm. He went 22.3 kg.
I had nothing but awe at the fighting spirit of this bluefin.

[Wesley_Pang]

Holy_Mackerel

That's a great Longtail Tuna. 5 hours. I was stuffed landing a small one by myself on fly, and that only took 30-40 minutes. I'll give you a 10.

Getting a 20+kg Longtail on fly is one of my goals. Longtails are a fish that never give up.

I guess you livebaited. I've seen a couple that large landed on livebait in Moreton Bay.

Where about's did you get that fish?

I'll keep flogging the water to a foam. If I get the fly in front of enough fish, I may have a chance.

Do you know what the IGFA world fly record is for Longtails?

Wes

[Jack_Lives_Here]

Top fish.
Had a quick peek at the IGFA list how's this:
Tuna, bluefin M-10 kg (20 lb) 02/05/2003 248 lb 0 oz
112.49kg :o :o :o

[Wesley_Pang]

Dave,

I think you've got the wrong Bluefin(Thunnus thynnus).

I want Tippet 4/6/8/10kg Northern bluefin/Longtail tuna(Thunnus tonggol).

I think you need to be an IGFA member to get access to the full record list.

Wes

[Quinny69]

I dont think (Im not sure) they would have LTs in the IGFA recs.As for ANSA its 16.58kg on 10(from Sunshine coast)10.15 on 6 fromWA and a couple other line class fish. You know youd have to start using "Class Tippets" Wes.Im sure theres a 20 out there with your name on it.Lets get Im on the week end. MQ

[thunnus]

all i know is that the 8 and 10kg records are held by craig radford and that mob over in WA, if you gimmi a couple of days i can get my hands on the IGFA record book and i will be able to tell you all. Mind you if you claim a record except it to take at least 6months to clear, not to mention the state and aust records that have to pass first.

cheers, Justin

[Jack_Lives_Here]

That's the one Wes - different I know but got me all light headed thinking about it. How would you back be after that tussle??

[Holy_Mackerel]

Wes,
Got that fish at Port Stephens. But Moreton Bay sounds more consistent. I'm not an IGFA member so I can't tell you the fly records sorry. No doubt they will be Australian fish however.
All the best with your quest.
Wes T

[dill007]

what the feck????!!?? you got that a port stephens...where abouts i used to be a longline tuna fisherman we've NEVER seen them there

[gavsgonefishing]

Its probably why he got the fish there , cause the longliners havent found them, then proceeded to rape the stocks

[Thunderbird]

Nice tuna mate =!
But i still love the kingy...
Thanks again for the heads up on the lord howe charter....What an awesome place.

[Billo]

Bloody brilliant fighters aren't they !!!!
I would say without a doubt the number 1 endurance species ..they just never give up

damn fine speciman HM .....damn fine

My best to date went about 26.5 on 10 .. 2 hours , 45 minutes

i will be out there with the 3 and 6 kg outfits this weekend , see whats lurking around !
may even put the wand in

[kingcobe]

Awesome catch. 5 hours sh*t I've Heard about them being good fighters and read about it but never heard of one that size to be played for that long with a battle like that your arms must be half dead.


Kingcobe

[speedy]

decent fish, does any one know if they have started there run through hervey bay yet ill be there in 2 weeks going to try and grab some on skirts

[darryl_l]

Nice fish Holy M but just make sure you leave the Lure Casting Aus Record alone >:( >:( >:(

That one is mine at the mo and I want to keep it that way ;D ;D ;D

Darryl L

[Bigenuff]

thats a good bluefin,best ive caught here in bundy is 64.5lbs on the artificial reef,but the biggest ive seen went just over 39kgs.we get all our big bluefin mainly in the winter months .

[Holy_Mackerel]

Hey Darryl,
Hmmm, 15 April 2000 at Burnett Heads hey??!! haha... very very nice fish on a lure!! Oh alright... I'll leave that one alone if you leave the 4kg lurecasting yellowfin alone... hehe.
Man, someone dragged this post up from the grave. I caught that fish 2 1/2 years ago! But now I live up in the land of the longies. In Qld now.
Thanks for the comments anyhow fellas. Very nice of you.
dill007, you don't get them longlining because longtails tend to hug the coast and not head offshore. The longliners generally bait off the shelf is that right?
39kg is the biggest Ive heard of! Previous biggest was IGFA Alltackle - Tim Simpson 35kg at Bermagui.
Long live the Longie.
Wes

[Bigenuff]

finally got the scanner to work. this is my personal best bluefin to date. 64.5lbs or 29.5kgs.got him on the artificial reef off elliot heads.