Tuna

We target 3 tuna species in New Zealand: albacore, yellow fin and skipjack (see below).
Other tuna species can be found here such as butterfly tuna, Northern blue fin tuna and southern blue fin tuna.
As our Northern blue fin tuna has an average weight of 150kg-200kg nobody has yet been brave/ foolish enough to target them.
To catch a Northern blue fin tuna on fly in New Zealand, one must be prepared for the ultimate battle, and to catch one IGFA legal almost seems impossible.
The Southern Blue fin tuna can only be found of the west coast of the South island, so unfortunately we haven’t had the chance yet to target them.

Albacore

FACT FILE
Size:	1-30kg.
Tackle:	8-14wt 400meters backing.
Season:	October-May.
Locations:	Bay of Plenty.

Albacore is a very user friendly species that arrives in October in the Bay of Plenty.
The first fish to arrive are the biggest, and we catch them up to around 20kg every year. Huge schools move through, and as the water temperature warms up, the bigger fish are moving towards coolers climates and only the little ones stay behind.

Albacore responds extremely well to cubing, and this can be a deadly tactic for getting those big ones within casting range.

Albacore are not as surface active as skipjack and yellow fin, so fast sinking lines is the go. Squid imitations for the bigger fish and small baitfish profiles for the smaller ones. If catching a big albacore on fly is on your “to do list” this is the place to do it.

Yellow fin

FACT FILE
Size:	15-90kg.
Tackle:	12-16wt 400meters backing.
Season:	Jan – March.
Locations:	Bay of Plenty.

Yellow fin arrives late January, and the first ones to show up are usually 40kg+.
When the water reaches 22 degrees we get a run of smaller fish with an average weight around 20kg. These fish heard up sauries, anchovies and pilchards and can be seen herding the bait up into big meatballs.

Casting a fly into this frenzy is a thrilling experience. A long, hard and dogged fight can be expected with these speedsters.

Anchovy patters and cube flies are the go, and we recommend nothing smaller than a good 12wt with top of the line reel attached to it. Fast sinking lines for quick presentation is a must. Catching yellow fin on fly is a big test on your fish fighting skills.

Skipjack

FACT FILE
Size:	1-10kg.
Tackle:	8-10wt 200 meters backing.
Season:	Dec-May.
Locations:	Bay of Plenty.

Skipjack is the most common tuna to catch on fly in New Zealand.
Millions of them arrive in December and stay until May when the water cools down. Huge surface schools are hunting day and night, and with them follow marlin, sharks and yellow fin tuna.

As one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean the skipjack performs as no other fish. When the fly is engulfed, the fish heads for the horizon and the spool of the reel is a blur to look at. Once the first long run is over, the tuna heads for the thermo cline to finish the fight in cooler water.

Pink and silver baitfish patterns tied on a 4/0 hook seems to be the go. 8 wt rods with a clear intermediate shooting head for a fast presentation. Skipjack tuna on fly is a favourite amongst Saltflyer clients.