Fishing for Bluefin Tuna off Pedra Branca Tasmania

Pedra Branca Island is Australia's southern most national park. It's the biggest of three rocks that jut from a depth of around 160 meters into the Southern Ocean current about 26 km from the rugged bottom coast of Tasmania. Together known as the Rocky Islets, these small sea mounts lie inside the continental shelf and attract copious marine life. Pedra Branca means "white rock" in Portuguese, quite understandable when you consider it's a rookery for about 5000 gannets and 1000 shy albatross. The 2.5 hectare speck rises to 60 meters and boasts a big colony of Australian fur seals, along with some extremely rare skinks which were inadvertently responsible for the only human death recorded on the island. Story and photos: Dean Butler

I will never forget just how impressive the Island was as we made our first pass early in the morning but before I could really get my head around just how dramatic it was the moment was shattered by the scream of a tortured 80 Penn reel drag announcing the first of what would be many bites from powerful southern bluefin tuna.

Stand-up 80 pound tackle with drags set up to 20 kg was the best way to handle fish in the 80 to 100 kg class. Leader set up was a short double in the 80 lb attached loop to loop to a 15-foot wind-on leader finished with large Aussie Snap swivel.

Lures were rigged on 300 and 400 pound leaders eight feet in length. Double or single 10/0 hook rigs set way back in the lures from 6 to 8 inches long are all thats needed.

Going hard and fast on these big strong tuna is the only way to go. Note the birds working in the background.

The bait fish known as Redbait (Emmelichthys Nitidus) is the main food source of Tasmanian gannets, albatross, Australian fur Seals and Southern Bluefin Tuna.

Pedra Branca is one of the wildest fisheries I have ever had the privilege to visit. It was simply mind blowing to be fishing amongst breeching whales, seals, and wheeling and diving sea birds. It was the densest concentration off marine life I had ever experienced.

Big fish puts a smile on the anglers face. Note the Tuna in the middle photo has a malformed upper jaw, which obviously did not affect his feeding in any way.

Unbelievable - 8 southern blue fin tuna from 12 bites over just 4 and a half hours of fishing. There was plenty of amazing sashimi grade tuna and rich bluefin tuna steaks for all, appreciated by the crew family and friends.

The chance to visit such a wild and pristine stretch of the Southern Ocean, experiencing its power and its glory is worth the trip to Pedra Branca even without the fish. To maximize the chance of both expect them to start showing up from late February through to mid July.

Pedra Branca Bluefin