Perth Pelagics — Practical Guide

Best spots & strategy

Perth & Rottnest focus

Pelagics move fast — look for structure, bait schools, weedlines and temperature breaks. Here's a compact map and plan.

Common hot regions

Tip: find bait (flying fish, small tuna, squid) and follow it — the pelagics follow.

High tide: Often good near structure and inshore reefs — concentrates bait.
Low tide: Use to access weedlines and hard-structure edges where bait congregates.
Moon: Around new and full moons tidal flows strengthen — active feeding windows; check local tide tables.
Time of day: Dawn and dusk are prime for surface activity; midday can be good if water temp is right and birds are feeding.

Light wind (Beaufort 2–3): Ideal for trolling and sighting birds.
Moderate seas: can help hide lines and entice strikes — but always prioritize safety.
Stable barometer & clear skies often mean consistent feeding; frontal systems can spike activity but may be rough.

Species	Water temp	Technique	Lures / Bait
Tuna (Yellowfin & alike) Fast & schooling	20–27°C	Trolling, poppers, live bait, soft-plastics near birds	Stickbaits, poppers, small skirted lures, live pilchards
Marlin (Blue & Striped) Big-game—requires tackle	22–28°C (look for weedlines & temp breaks)	Trolling big skirted lures, teasers, live bait if available	Large skirted lures (8–10"), ballyhoo, large live baits
Mahi‑Mahi (Dorado) Surface oriented, colorful	20–27°C (warmer water favours them)	Trolling weedlines & flotsam, surface lures, light tackle for fun fights	Small skirted lures, cedar plugs, soft plastics, flying fish imitations

Note: water temp ranges are general — always use your sounder and surface observations to confirm.

Both have strengths. Choose based on target species, availability of bait, and sea conditions.

Trolling: Best for covering ground, finding active fish and targeting marlin and roaming tuna.
Live bait: Higher hookup rate for tuna and big marlin — but requires catching and keeping bait, or chum schools.
Hybrid approach: Troll to find birds/bait, then switch to live/anchored baits or heavy lures when you locate aggregations.

Lure type	When to use	Targets
Surface poppers & stickbaits	Birds working, visible boil-ups	Tuna, mahi
Skirted trolling lures	Open-water trolling, marlin & big tuna	Marlin, big tuna
Soft plastics & skirted jigs	Near weedlines, around bait schools	Tuna, mahi
Live pilchards / slimy mackerel	When you can catch/keep live bait	Tuna, marlin, occasional mahi

Pelagics often relate to thermoclines (sharp temperature gradients). Use your sounder to find temperature breaks and bait schools near those edges.

~18–20°C: Cooler marginal waters — smaller tuna and skipjack may appear.
20–27°C: Sweet spot for mahi and many tuna species around Perth.
>27°C: Very warm water can push species further offshore but can create explosive surface feeding where bait is present.

Small pilchards, slimy mackerel, whitebait and squid are common baits. Chumming (sparingly) can help keep fish close when live bait isn't available.