IT’S ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE catch
SMALL MOVES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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Being a Tuna Champion means doing it better
and knowing more about what you’re catching
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Ambassadors

Meet our Ambassadors, pick up some hot tips on the best fishing practices for SBT and even find out how to channel your inner chef. Let’s go!

All Ambassadors

Scott G

@scottgrayfishing

Southwest Victoria

Catching multiple SBT in an outing is common in southwest Victoria, so many anglers practice catch and release - which means looking after it so it survives.

Scott G

Southwest Victoria

I use a large landing net with a soft silicone bag, which helps control the fish when landing it and prevents damage to its skin and scales.

I also use single hooks on all my stickbait lures – they’re easier to remove from the fish, cause less damage to its mouth, and reduce bleeding. This means the fish spends less time out of the water before release and has a better chance of surviving.

Lee VS

@leevansoest

Adelaide SA

There's nothing like hooking up to an SBT... the rush and fighting power of these fish is amazing!

Lee VS

Adelaide SA

Always change your treble hooks to single hooks - and if you're releasing the fish, get it onto a wet mat, pop in a tag and get it back in the water as quickly as you can.

Masaaki

@masaakisushi

Geeveston TAS

How long your bluefin lasts depends on how you handle it. If it's a well-handled iki jime fish, it can last more than 10 days in the fridge.

Masaaki

Geeveston TAS

You can tell if a fish has been flapping around on the deck - the muscles have been burning up, so the flesh is not as clear, you can see the blood in it and it doesn't taste as good. When you immediately use a spike to the brain, the fish stays still and the meat is better quality.

It is best to fillet it straight away in a clean environment, then chill it and let it rest for a day or two. That way you get the full flavour of the meat. There's many ways to eat bluefin. My favourite is as sashimi with fresh soy sauce and fresh wasabi, and I like to keep the cheeks and sear them for my breakfast!

Tune up your tuna skills

Being a Tuna Champion means using the best fishing practices for Southern Bluefin Tuna – and encouraging your mates to do the same. Small moves make a difference.

release

Will the fish you release have the best chance of surviving?

catch

Do you have the right fishing gear to catch big fish and is it in good condition?

keep

Do you know how to dispatch, bleed, gill-gut and chill your bluefin for the best taste – and so no fish is wasted?

handle

Are you leaving the fish in the water when possible, and handling it with care?

prepare

Do you know how to prep your bluefin to make the most of the meat you harvest?

Watch this!Skill up

Shop like a Tuna Champion

Slip on a t-shirt, jump into our new hoodie and slap on a cap. Now that’s Tuna Champion cool.

…or get onboard with the limited edition Reel Brand + Tuna Champion long-sleeve fishing shirt.

Find out about sizing and more here, or hit the button below to head straight to our online shop.

I want one

These links re-direct you to our Tuna Champions shopping page, which is currently hosted by UTAS.

All profits from the sale of merchandise go back into the Tuna Champions program

Testimonials

Don’t take our word for it. Here’s what people are saying about Tuna Champions…

“With the help of the Tuna Champion movement, competitions are moving from whole-fish weigh-ins to gill gutted. We’re seeing a real change in how people bring in the fish, including how much ice they take on their boat.”

John Johnstone, Owner, Portland Bait & Tackle

“In support of the Tuna Champion program, a ‘Tag and Release’ category has been introduced to the month-long Hooked On Tuna competition for 2019.

This program encourages recreational fishers to respect SBT and adopt ways to fish better with minimum waste.

In recognition of this, competition rules are now aligned with best practice fishing of the SBT, with all fish presented at weigh-in mandated to be gutted, gilled and bled to avoid wastage.”

Michael Cottee, Tourism and Events Manager, Glenelg Shire Council

“Tuna champions! What a great idea to educate recreational fishers about better ways to catch and respect their SBT. I’m a recreational tuna fisherman, hobby lure maker, chef, and a foods teacher at a senior secondary college in Tasmania.

Yesterday I brought in a small school SBT I’d caught out of Fortescue Bay the day before. Your website was a fantastic resource to use as a platform to inform and educate my students about all aspects of SBT.

They participated in cleaning, portioning and cryovacking the fish. In following lessons, we’ll be utilising all the different cuts of the SBT, preparing delicious morsels and dishes to showcase this amazing fish. Overall a great learning experience for my students and your website is a great resource for all – well done!”

Chris Edwards, Foods Teacher TAS

Become a Tuna Champ - Take the tuna Pledge

I do solemnly swear to catch, handle, keep or release southern bluefin tuna as safely and humanely as possible – and to prepare it well, so no fish is wasted.

IT’S ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE catch

SMALL MOVES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Being a Tuna Champion means doing it better

and knowing more about what you’re catching