Offshore Tuna Holding at Cabbage Patch and Neptune Banks with 10-16kg Fish

Tackleworld’s Feb 18, 2026 fishing report shows offshore tuna holding at known hotspots including the Cabbage Patch and the Neptune Banks, with fish sizes reported in the 10–16 kg (22–35 lb) range alongside a large number of smaller tuna. The note highlights Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay as the regional focus for these sightings and catches.

The TW Port Lincoln team summed up local activity: “Offshore fishing has been good with good numbers of Tuna sitting on the Cabbage Patch, there is plenty of fish there around the 15kg mark. Kingfish and Samson fish can also be caught there. There’s some big Nannygai on the reefs taking a liking to the Nomad Squidtrex lures, Blue Morwong, big Sweep and Trevally also.” That update names the Cabbage Patch as a live holding ground and pins a typical tuna size at about 15kg.

Tackleworldadelaide expanded the picture for Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln: “The offshore scene out from Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln has been superb when the weather allows. There are numerous reef lumps out there which provide habitat and feeding grounds for kingfish, samsonfish, nannygai, blue morwong and southern bluefin tuna. Autumn is the perfect time to get out there and try your luck with calm weather and good tides the key. [...] Southern bluefin tuna are sitting out from Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln in some good sized schools currently. Plenty have been caught trolling shallow hardbodies and skirts. For some exhilarating action, casting surface lures into the schools and watching blue torpedos slamming your lure cannot be beat! The Daiwa Saltiga Over-There Stickbaits are a great option for this.”

Photographic and angler reports support the offshore notes: “This weeks photos are courtesy of: Shane Hodgens: Tuna caught at the Cabbage Patch,” and Charlie Hodgens reported “Tuna and some big Nannygai caught out of Port Lincoln. Blue Swimmer Crabs caught in the bay on Australia Day.” Kaiden & Ryder Vermeulen noted “Some big Blue Swimmer crabs off the Coffin Bay jetty over the weekend,” and Kai Anning recorded salmon at Lock’s Well.

Salmon and shark activity remains a coastal concern: “Salmon can be caught along Sleaford with schools of fish scattered along the coast. Most are around 3kg and are closely followed by big Bronze Whaler Sharks.” Tackleworldadelaide also lists Almonta Beach and Lock’s Well producing salmon to 3kg on salted pilchards and metal lures, and Harris Cosgrove supplied a Bronze Whaler tally from the far west coast caught on the Shimano Bronzie Basher.

Inshore and reef species are producing consistent mixed bags. Tackleworldpl mentions big nannygai taking Nomad Squidtrex lures, while Tackleworldadelaide notes crews “have been able to bag out on nannygai, silver trevally and gummy shark whilst out there on the offshore reefs.” Yellowfin Whiting are reported in good numbers along beaches north of Port Neill to Cowell using Daiwa Slippery Dogs, Jabbers Honcho Stick baits or prawns, and Cowell has “Crabs enough for a feed.”

Flathead reports from the Eyre show quality fish: “Flathead flickers have had a successful start to the season on the Eyre with some quality crocs caught from Walker’s Rocks, Coffin Bay and McLaren Point. Anglers casting soft plastics and covering water have returned the best catch success with fish up to 70cm landed. Ideal tackle for these fish is a 3-6kg rod, 7ft length with some 10-15lb braid and 15lb fluorocarbon leader.”

Practical local info and a note on missing text: Tackleworld Port Lincoln promote their radio slot, “Listen live every Wednesday at midday on 5CC, All the latest fishing tips, top spots and new products weekly - get it first on radio 5CC every WEDNESDAY at Midday”, and list contact as (08) 8682 4550. The original Feb 18 snippet also ends mid-sentence with the truncated fragment “The lo,” so follow-up to retrieve the clipped material and further detail on Neptune Banks is recommended.

Autumn conditions and calm tides remain the operational variables; when those line up, the Cabbage Patch and nearby offshore lumps are where 10–16 kg tuna and a raft of reef species are being found.