Each fall in New England, false albacore provide a brief, electric fishing experience as they move inshore to feast on rafts of baitfish flushing out of tidal creeks and rivers. False albacore are fast and finicky little tuna with laser-sharp eyesight. Even if the fishing is tough, albies offer the best option for targeting pelagic predators close to shore.
How to Catch False Albacore the Easy Way
The Hunt
To catch a false albacore, first plug into the local fishing circle. Fire up the group chat, share intel willingly and launch with an armada of friends to chase down fleeting glimpses of albacore.
The fish move fast. If I hear of false albacore in Niantic, a few hours later the fish could be miles away in Guilford. Working with other anglers stationed along the coast, I drive from launch to launch searching the water with binoculars.
Catching an albie starts after spotting a brief slash on the surface, a full-blown froth or a flicking baitfish. Beaches, points, current rips and the outflow of tidal creeks and rivers are common albie haunts. When I spot signs of albacore, I alert the other anglers in my network before launching my kayak and giving chase.
I pedal my kayak to intersect the school’s path. When the feeding fish are in casting range, I let the lure rip toward the school. As soon as the lure hits the water, I reel feverishly with the jig skimming across the water.
If I lose sight of the school, I scan the surface for bait, ripples and splashes.
Meet Albie
Albacore are miniature tuna revered for their drag-peeling runs and quick direction changes. I call false albacore 50-50-50 fish. I’ve got a 50 percent chance of seeing albacore, then a 50 percent chance of hooking one and about a 50 percent chance of landing the fish.
To fool albacore, it takes a light rod, a small reel, light fishing line and a small, aerodynamic jig. The ideal rod is medium-action and seven and a half feet long. The rod should be designed to cast a one-ounce lure to the moon. A long cast covers more water with less chance of spooking the fish.
A 3000 to 5000 reel holds enough line to keep up with a speeding albacore. It takes a silky smooth drag to slow the fish down. I spool the reel with 20-pound-test braided mainline and a five-foot leader of 15-pound fluorocarbon tied to the braid with a uni-to-uni knot.
X-Ray Vision
Albacore have the best eyes in the ocean. They can spot a swivel or clip a mile away. On more than one occasion, I’ve been fishless until I downsized my leader and suddenly the albacore couldn’t stay off my lure.
Metal and epoxy jigs are most common. My personal favorite is the Game On! EXO Jig. I always start with electric chicken color and switch lures until I match the bait. Sometimes an exact match is the ticket, other times the fish want a bright lure and then there are times when albacore won’t touch anything.
Albacore are tricky, fickle, smart, sharp-sighted and endlessly frustrating. But just one singing drag or yak-side explosion and I’m an albie junky for life.
Matt Stone is a tackle shop manager and freelance outdoor writer. He lives in Westbrook, Connecticut, with his wife and son.
Run and gun to keep up with the false albacore migration. | Feature photo: Matt Stone
