Overview
Yellowtail — yakkas — school around wharves, moorings and inshore reef and are the standard live bait for kingfish, mulloway and snapper.
They respond immediately to a berley trail of chopped pilchard or bread and can be caught by the dozen on a bait jig.
Fresh yakka fillets are excellent eating and superb strip bait.
Where to find them
- ▸Wharf and marina pylons in 3–10 m.
- ▸Moored boats in deep harbours.
- ▸Inshore bommies and reef edges.
- ▸Around anchored berley trails anywhere on the coast.
Tackle
- ▸Rod: light 6' spin or handline.
- ▸Line: 10 lb mono.
- ▸Rig: sabiki bait jig or size 10 long-shank hook with a pinch of prawn.
Tips from the water
- ▸Start a berley trail before you rig up.
- ▸Keep them in an aerated live well with plenty of water flow.
- ▸Bridle-rig live yakkas for kingfish rather than pinning them through the back.
Regulations
Size, bag and possession limits differ between states and can change each season. Check the current rules with your state fisheries authority before keeping a fish.