Once the hotter summer weather starts waning in the northeast, anglers will be out in full force checking out the cooler waters for the bait fish and game fish that tend to hug the shores. One of these game fish is the false albacore.
Unlike its larger cousin the tuna, false albacore (also known as little tunny) have worm like lines down their backs and lack teeth. Though closely related to both tuna and mackerel, these differences make them stand in a class of their own. You’ll often find them along the coast, especially as they begin their southward migration for winter.
Whether you are fishing the shorelines of Massachusetts or the coast of Florida, depending on the time of year, you’re likely to encounter false albacore. Typically they travel in schools – and they can often be found in areas that are highly populated by bait fish. In fact, you’ll often find that bait fish force the false albacore to the surface where they can be seen mimicking the tunas speed. Along the way, false albacore can clean out a school of baitfish. Sharks and Marlin prefer the false albacore as their diet as well, so they are likely to find themselves as someone else’s dinner after they wipe out a school of baitfish.
Although smaller than the related tuna, the false albacore are no less aggressive when it comes to fighting. This characteristic is what intrigues inshore fisherman the most. Some fishermen have been amazed to discover just how quickly the false albacore can strip a reel of line. Unprepared anglers are often caught completely unaware of the power of this fish. Once they are hooked, they struggle below the boat similar to the fight put up by tunas. False albacore are not nearly as good eating as their tuna counterparts – but there’s little doubt that this 5-10 pound fish makes for great sport fishing.
If you are looking for false albacore, the place to start is where you see schools of bait fish. They will typically be found breaking the surface in search of baitfish. Seagulls are often in the area too, since they tend to feed on exactly the same bait. As a rule of thumb, you’ll find these fish in water that’s relatively fast moving and often where you find artificial reefs, around large rock piles and in the areas between islands. The reason for this is simple – these areas tend to disorient bait fish, making it easier for the false albacore to feast upon their favorite prey. You can often blind cast in these areas even if it doesn’t appear that the area is populated with false albacore – even if they are not feeding on the surface, they will typically stay in the same area until they have wiped out the baitfish or the baitfish have moved to a different area.
Shoreline locations and beaches are typical grounds for the tunny. You can sometimes find them feeding in the same areas that are inhabited by bluefish, striped bass and other predatory fishes. This allows some casting opportunities right from the beach. Common lures for the false albacore are the silver spoons. The theory behind this isn’t that difficult, they prefer silver slides, peanut bunker and anchovies and the silver spoon mimics these fairly well. In general, a one or two ounce spoon will do the trick. You may also find some success with soft plastics, top water plugs or small swimmers, though many find the spoon more effective.
If you’re out looking for a new spot to fish, keep an eye out for diving seagulls. Remember, they might not be after bluefish, but instead may have just found the next school of false albacore feeding on a batch of baitfish.
When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Fishing Reels, Penn Reels, and Daiwa Fishing Reels.

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