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During the midwinter months wide disturbances over the surface of Moreton Bay (South Queensland) show the presence of feeding shoals of Northern Bluefins. Where dense congregations of Hardyheads and Garfish build up in proximity to bayside wharves and jetties these Tuna make flashing runs through the packed fish, showering spray as they burst out of the water.
They can easily be hooked by drifting and chumming (or burleying) in the vicinity of a shoal; they are quite fearless, and it is commonplace to have a group of a dozen or more fish swirling about the boat, seizing the burley (usually Hardyheads), as it is put over. At these times a bait can be presented to just that particular fish it is desired to hook; it is then advisable to let the fish move out unchecked for at least 70 m (80 yards) in its first powerful run before any attempt is made to control it. Fish to 16 kg (35 lb.) weight are commonplace; the species reaches 27 kg (60 lb.). It is often captured by trollers on mackerel grounds.
Although a red-fleshed fish, it can be prepared for the table by filleting, bleaching the fillets by quick immersion in hot water, and frying; as such it is almost indistinguishable from Mackerel. This fish is bright blue-grey above and silvery below. The fins are dark-grey, and the finlets (located in the midline of the body, immediately behind the dorsal and anal fins; usually, eight above and below) bright-yellow. This feature alone serves to distinguish it from the Yellowfin Tuna in which this yellow coloration extends to both dorsal fins, the anal fin, and the outer edge of the tail. The Northern Bluefin occurs along the entire Queensland seaboard.
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