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

Paul W & fam

@ifishtv @ifishchick @jetreef

Cranbourne VIC

I love fresh SBT - but look after that delicate flesh the second it hits the deck! Bleed and gut it then stuff it with ice to lower the core temp.

Paul W & fam

Cranbourne VIC

Eat as much of the fish as you can without freezing it. If I freeze it, I soak the fillets in marinade for 6-12 hours in the fridge, then vac-seal and freeze. It's almost as good as fresh and lasts at least 4 months without spoiling.

CRISTY: Once you find tuna on the sounder, keep working the area. You'll eventually get a bite window. It’s better than leaving fish to try and find fish. JET: Try to match the colour and size of lures to what the fish are feeding on at the time. The stomach contents of a fish you keep are a clue for your lure choice.

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!

Trish S

@bluewatermagazine

Southport QLD

I love the hydrodynamic perfection of bluefin tuna.Their streamlining is amazing! Even their fins fold into slots to minimise drag.

Trish S

Southport QLD

Try diving minnow-shaped hardbody lures - like Halco's excellent Laser Pro in sizes 160 & 190, which can handle trolling speeds up to 10 knots.

These lures dive beneath the surface chop and engine propwash, and often out-fish skirted lures on tuna. Switch hooks to in-line singles - they minimise damage to fish you'll release and hold better on heavier tackle.

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