Page 14 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing mag

Mackerel and tuna schools feeding look slightly different and you can notice the differences here.
Tim found this solid longtail tuna near Mud Island.
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breach the surface more
You could on occasion find them feeding on the surface and again birds will often help you find them.
livies, try the 220mm Zerek Affinity or Jackall Dowzswimmer swimbaits in natural colours.
while mackerel stay be- low the surface.
If you find a feeding frenzy, motor up and stay around 10m to the side with your motor running, cast to the edges of the school and retrieve like hell back to the boat.
I was fishing on the 10m drop-off at Mud and had a longtail take a bait intended for snap- per, so they are a fish that can pop up any- where but they mainly herd bait up against the side of banks or drop- offs.
When targeting pelag- ics, especially longtails, make sure your gear is up to scratch, knots are well tied and you’re us- ing a decent leader, as they will test your gear to its limits.
One thing about mackerel is that their feed and travel routine can usually be worked out easily and you can position the boat ahead of the school, so they come toward you.
Lures also work, with presentations such as 7’’ Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ in natural colours rigged on 1/2 or 3/4oz jig heads and 100-140m stick baits.
I usually run 30lb braid with a 40lb lead- er, and anyone who has experienced the initial run will attest to their ability to make you wonder if you’re going to have enough line.
All mackerel once caught should be sub- dued with a donger, bled, then iced as soon as possible.
If you cannot get your hands on some
You may need to fol- low the fish to retrieve * continued P15
Longtails should be turning up in bet- ter numbers between Coochiemudlo and Peel islands, the Rainbow Channel, Peel to the Sandhills, the shipping channel and from the Pearl Channel down to Mud Island.
Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2020
Work the edges of the drop-offs trolling pillies or live bait on a paravane or downrigger.
Lee Edwards caught this mack tuna in the Brisbane River.
www.bnbfishing.com.au