18/08/2025
A Bluefin Crash Course | It’s been a dream debut season on the bluefin grounds for angler Ben Knudsen. This year marked his first time ever targeting Southern Bluefin, and in just three trips on board with Shimano Field-Tester Jason Anderson he has gone three from three, landing a fish on every outing!
Starting from scratch, Ben has had to learn the finer details of bluefin fishing on the fly — everything from how much to chum, baiting hooks the right way, leadering fish at the boat, and all the little steps that go into a successful capture. With every trip he has grown in confidence, and the results speak for themselves.
His first and second fish both weighed in at 120kg, but it was his third that stood out — a 150kg+ model released after an unforgettable double hookup. The night before, the crew had already landed a 163kg tuna and released another at 120kg, with fish swimming around the boat and another pulled hook right at the leader. The following morning, after several hours towing lures without a sign, the call was made to switch to bluenose. Just as the boat slowed, the short corner went off, and as one lure was being cleared, another big tuna crashed it and chaos followed. After some slick crew work, Jason's fish of 130kg was landed, number 10 for the season, before Ben’s estimated 150kg+ fish was brought boat-side and released, marking number 11 for the season and his biggest yet.
Three trips, three fish, and a first season to remember. For Ben, it’s only the beginning of his bluefin journey — but what a way to start.
