Fish

Kawakawa (mackerel tuna)

Bacoreta oriental (kawakawa)

Euthynnus affinis

Saltwater

At a glance

Typical size

3–10 lb.

Depth

Surface to 600 ft; mostly near the surface.

Best time

Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.

Found in

15 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A small, chunky tuna with wavy dark stripes on the back behind the first dorsal fin, a few black spots between the pectoral and pelvic fins, and a silver unstriped belly. The Indo-Pacific twin of the Atlantic little tunny (bonito).
Typical size: 3–10 lb.
Maximum size: About 3 ft and 30 lb (14 kg).
Diet: Small fish, squid and shrimp.
Behavior: Fast schooling tuna that feed on bait close to shore and around reefs, often with birds overhead.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Hawaii, Guam & Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, South Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea, Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory & Western Australia, South-East Australia & Tasmania, Indonesia (Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Sulawesi), Philippines, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam), China, Hong Kong & Taiwan, Japan & South Korea, East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands, Red Sea & Arabian Gulf (Egypt, Oman, UAE) and India, Sri Lanka, Maldives & Pakistan. Coastal waters, bays, reef edges and islands of the Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Coastal waters, bays, reef edges and islands of the Indo-Pacific.
Depth: Surface to 600 ft; mostly near the surface.
Fishing depth: Surface to 30 ft.
Best season: All year in the tropics; summer and autumn in southern Queensland and NSW.
Best time: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Best tides: Tides matter less offshore; look for current lines, temperature breaks and bait. Around reefs and seamounts, the tide change turns the fish on.
Best weather / conditions: Calm days to see surface schools.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Live small fish or strips of squid.
Best artificial lures: Small metals, feather jigs, small trolling lures and baitfish flies.
Tackle setup: 7 ft medium spinning rod.
Hook size: 1/0–4/0 hooks.
Line: 15–20 lb braid or monofilament.
Leader: 25–40 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Leader Lures Spoon Wire

As an Amazon Associate, BigJoe earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep this guide free.

Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Coastal waters, bays, reef edges and islands of the Indo-Pacific.
Rig up: 7 ft medium spinning rod. 25–40 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Live small fish or strips of squid. Lures: Small metals, feather jigs, small trolling lures and baitfish flies.
Fish it: Cast metals into surface schools or troll small feathers around bait; also a top bait for marlin, wahoo and GTs.
Time it: Daylight hours, especially early morning and late afternoon. Tides matter less offshore; look for current lines, temperature breaks and bait. Around reefs and seamounts, the tide change turns the fish on.

Fishing techniques: Cast metals into surface schools or troll small feathers around bait; also a top bait for marlin, wahoo and GTs.
BigJoe's tip: Rig a live kawakawa as bait under a balloon — it's a classic marlin and shark bait.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Dark, rich meat: good fresh as poke or sashimi when bled, or grilled; also used for katsuobushi-style dried fish in Asia.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Harmless; bleed it quickly.
Regulations: Few limits; check local rules. Licenses and rules differ by country across the Indo-Pacific: Australia's states, Asian countries and the Pacific islands all set their own bag limits, size limits and marine park zones. Check the local rules or fish with a licensed charter.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat and release the big breeders; wet your hands, support the fish's belly and get it back in the water fast.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits