Yellowtail Kingfish
Sydney's premier sportfish. Brutal, fast and famous for busting anglers off in the reef, the yellowtail kingfish holds right around Sydney Harbour and along the coast, and going toe to toe with a big model is a genuine rite of passage.
About the yellowtail kingfish
Unmistakable with their blue-green backs, torpedo-shaped bodies and bright yellow tails and fins, yellowtail kingfish are built for speed and power. They school around structure, reefs, wrecks, washes, moorings and bommies, and they hit hard, then run straight for the nearest snag to bust you off. Hooking one and turning its head is one of the great thrills in Sydney fishing.
Kings are caught right through Sydney Harbour and out on the offshore reefs, so you do not have to run wide to find them. They are around in good numbers from spring through to autumn, and while plenty of “rats” keep you busy, it is the big models, the fish that test your tackle and your nerve, that keep anglers coming back.
Yellowtail Kingfish at a glance
| Name | Yellowtail Kingfish |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Kingfish, Kingie |
| Scientific name | Seriola lalandi |
| Best season in NSW | Sep–May |
| Habitat | Reefs/Harbour |
| Where found in NSW | Sydney Harbour, Offshore reefs |
| Size and bag limits | 65cm min, bag 5 |
| Average size | 60–90cm |
| Max size | 1.5m |
| Fishing method | Jigging, Live bait, Stickbaits |
| Best bait / lure | Live bait, Lures |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Eating quality | Excellent |
| Taste | Firm rich white flesh |
| Recipe ideas | Sashimi, grilling |
Jigging, live bait and stickbaits
Kingfish respond to a handful of proven methods, and we run whichever is firing on the day to get you connected.
The proven methods
Drop a metal jig down over the reefs, wrecks and washes and work it back with sharp lifts, it is fast, physical and one of the deadliest ways to tempt a big king. Slow-troll or drift a live yellowtail past the structure for the classic big-fish approach, or cast stickbaits and surface lures over the washes when the kings are up and feeding. All the gear is on board and ready to go.
How Wahoo puts you on them
Kingfish are creatures of structure, and finding the big ones comes down to local knowledge. George Aslanian has spent more than 30 years learning every reef, wreck, wash and mooring around Sydney where the kings hold, and exactly how to tempt them. We set you over the fish, coach you through the jig or the live bait, then talk you through that brutal first run for the reef, where kings are won and lost. Ready to go? Book a dedicated Sydney kingfish charter.
Other Sport & pelagic fish
Australian Salmon
Australian salmon (Arripis trutta), also called kahawai: hard-running schools in the Sydney surf and harbour. Season, size, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them.
Bonito
Australian bonito (Sarda australis): a fast, hard-hitting coastal speedster around Sydney Harbour entrances. Season, size, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them.
Silver Trevally
Silver trevally (Pseudocaranx georgianus): hard-pulling schooling fish on Sydney Harbour and coastal reefs, year-round. Season, size and bag limits, methods and eating quality.
Tailor
Tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix): a fast, slashing surf and harbour predator off Sydney. Season, size and bag limits, methods and eating quality, plus how to catch them.
Want to tangle with a kingie?
Tell us your dates and crew and we will get you onto Sydney's hard-fighting kingfish, all gear supplied, every level welcome. Browse the full species guide, or mix it up on our sport and jigging charters.