How to Use Yakka for Bait: Live, Fillet and Butterfly Rigs

In Australian saltwater fishing, few baitfish hold as much universal appeal as the yakka — also known as yellowtail or yellowtail scad. Tough, oily, and abundant, yakkas aren’t just an easy catch; they’re one of the most effective baits you can present to predators from kingfish to snapper, mulloway, tuna, and beyond.

This is your complete guide to turning a bucket of yakkas into unforgettable fishing sessions.

Why Yakkas Make Premium Bait

Yakkas tick every box for a perfect baitfish. They’re naturally streamlined and active in the water, which draws strikes from visual hunters. Their oily flesh releases a steady scent trail, triggering the feeding instinct in a wide range of species. Best of all, they’re tough — both on the hook and in a livewell — meaning they can be fished actively without falling apart.

From live presentation to precision-cut fillets, knowing how to prepare and rig a yakka can make all the difference.

Fishing Live Yakkas Under a Float

If you’re targeting pelagics such as kingfish, salmon, mackerel, or tuna, a live yakka suspended under a float is a deadly choice. The float keeps your bait at a chosen depth, allowing it to swim naturally in the strike zone.

• Hook Placement: Pass the hook lightly through the cartilage of the nose for a forward-swimming bait, or through the back just ahead of the dorsal fin for a slower, wounded action.

• Tackle Tip: Use light but strong fluorocarbon leader to keep the presentation subtle and reduce tangles around the float.

Live Yakkas on the Bottom

For bottom hunters like mulloway, snapper, and reef fish, a running ball sinker rig with a live yakka gets results.

• Rig Setup: Thread the sinker directly onto the mainline above a swivel, then attach a leader to your hook.

• Hook Placement: Tail-hooking helps the bait swim downwards naturally, getting it in front of bottom feeders faster.

This setup works especially well around reef edges, deep holes, and river mouths where predators lie in wait.

Using Dead Yakkas for Maximum Impact

Not every yakka will survive until it’s in front of a fish — but dead baits can be just as effective when prepared correctly.

Filleted Yakka Strips

Filleting a yakka gives you long, thin baits with plenty of natural flutter in the current.

• How to Fillet for Bait: Run a sharp knife from behind the gill plate down to the tail, keeping close to the backbone. Remove the fillet, trim it into strips, and keep the skin on for durability.

• Best Targets: Flathead, tailor, trevally, and many reef species.

Butterfly Yakka

Butterflying turns a whole dead yakka into an irresistible, scent-rich bait for big predators.

• How to Butterfly: Starting from the backbone, remove both fillets but leave them attached at the tail. The head, frame, and tail stay intact, with the fillets flaring open to move naturally in the water.

• Best Targets: Mulloway, kingfish, big snapper, cobia, and even sharks.

The exposed flesh pumps out scent, while the tail section keeps the bait looking lifelike.

Chunk Baits

Cutting yakkas into chunks is perfect for drift fishing, bottom bouncing, or when smaller species are the target. It’s also a great way to conserve bait during slower sessions.

Storage and Freshness Tips

• Keep Live Baits Healthy: Use an aerated tank or keep-net in the water to reduce stress.

• Chill Dead Baits Quickly: Store fillets and whole yakkas on ice to maintain firmness and scent.

• Prepare Just Before Use: Cut strips or butterfly baits only when you’re ready to deploy them — fresher cuts get more bites.

Matching Yakka Baits to Target Species

Yakka Make Great Bait

Whether it’s kicking under a float, fluttering as a butterfly bait, or drifting as a scented fillet the yakka is one of the most versatile and effective baits in Australian fishing. Master a few simple preparation techniques, match the rig to the species, and you’ll have the confidence that every bait in the water is a genuine fish-catcher.

Some Other Great Articles For Bait Rigging

• Running sinker how‑to: https://reprobaits.com.au/blogs/uncategorized/how-to-set-up-a-sliding-sinker-rig/

• Rock-rig fundamentals: https://reprobaits.com.au/best-bait-rigs-for-rock-fishing-in-australia/

• Ball sinker vs star sinker (when to use which): https://reprobaits.com.au/blogs/news/running-ball-sinker-or-star-sinker-in-the-surf

• No‑snag rig options for rough ground: https://reprobaits.com.au/blogs/news/mastering-no-snag-fishing-rigs-your-ultimate-guide-to-fishing-in-tough-terrain