Saltwater
False Albacore (Little Tunny)
Where to find them, how to catch them and the tackle to use.
01Introduction
The false albacore, or little tunny ("albie" to Northeast anglers), is a small, bullet-shaped member of the tuna family, steel blue above with wavy stripes on its back and a few dark spots under its pectoral fins. Pound for pound it's one of the hardest-fighting fish an inshore angler can hook, and chasing blitzing schools on light tackle and fly rods is a late-summer obsession on much of the East Coast. Most run 4 to 12 pounds, and some top 20.
02Where to Catch
Range: tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Along the U.S. East Coast, schools migrate north in spring and summer and south in fall and winter.
Habitat: coastal and offshore waters. Inshore, albies don't hang on reefs or bridges the way many fish do; they hunt where current traps small baitfish, around points, islands, jetties, inlets, rips and harbor mouths. They're sight feeders that feed during the day, often on tiny baitfish like silversides, bay anchovies and young menhaden.
Seasons: in the Northeast, late summer and early fall are prime, with the first fish in the southern New England islands in mid-August and the run spreading through the region by early September. Timing differs farther south.
03How to Catch
Casting to blitzes
When albies push bait to the surface, birds and splashing show the way. Approach slowly so you don't scatter the school, and cast ahead of the fish's direction of travel rather than into the middle of the feed. Fast-moving lures are the rule: slender epoxy or metal casting jigs and small spoons retrieved quickly, or slender soft plastics worked erratically near the surface for picky fish. When fish are finicky, a steady retrieve with the rod tip down, keeping the jig just under the surface, often works better than twitching it.
Finding fish between blitzes
Albies tend to show again and again on the same contours, rips and structure. Use charts and sonar to mark those areas and baitfish, and blind-cast where they've been feeding.
Trolling and bait
Trolling small lures helps locate schools, and in warmer regions anglers also catch albies by float fishing live baitfish.
Fly fishing
Fly fishing for albies is popular; use small flies that imitate the baitfish they're eating.
04Tackle
A 7- to 8-foot medium or medium-light spinning rod (a fast action helps with jigs), a smooth drag on a 3000-size reel, 20-pound braid and a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader. Carry epoxy and metal casting jigs, slender soft plastics and small flies. False albacore regulations vary by state, so check your state's rules.
05Questions anglers ask
What's the difference between a false albacore and an Atlantic bonito?
False albacore have broken, wavy dark stripes on the back and three to seven dark spots under the pectoral fin. Atlantic bonito have mostly straight dark stripes on the back and no spots below the pectoral fin.
Are false albacore good to eat?
They're generally not sought as food because of their strong flavor.
Why won't the albies hit my lure?
They're fast, sharp-eyed and often feed on tiny baitfish. Cast ahead of a moving school rather than into it, match the size of the bait, use light fluorocarbon leader, and try a steady retrieve just under the surface.