False albacore tuna – AKA “albies” – are one of my favorite fish to catch on the Atlantic Coast. Part of their allure is due to their limited presence in different regions along the coast during the year. Preferring warmer water temperatures, albies migrate north during the spring and summer and south during fall and winter. They are also not as migratory as other tuna species and will spend limited time at each stop along their migration. The window to catch albies in my home state of Rhode Island can be as short as two weeks and as long as a couple of months. The chase to catch these beautiful, hard-fighting fish is fast and furious driving anglers onto the water in masses.

The Attraction of Albies

My first experience with albie fishing came on Nantucket in October. My family chartered a guide to take us out to chase anything including striped bass, bluefish, and false albacore. At this point I did not know much about albies and was still getting acquainted with the world of saltwater fishing. We fished a very windy day which made for tough casting conditions. However, the highlight of this trip was fishing Nantucket rips and sight casting to albies we could see in the surf of the rips.

At this point most of the saltwater fishing I had done involved sight casting and having the ability to see fish in the surf and cast to them has only been matched by my experiences sight casting for bonefish. When I hooked into that first albie and watched it take off strait into my backing, I knew this was a fish I wanted to continue to pursuit.

Ultimately we landed two albies that day, which when fishing for these finicky fish, is a very good day. Albies hone in on specific bait individuals and precision when casting to them is key to your success. Adding to their attraction, albies like any tuna species, are built for speed. In addition to their hydrodynamic body, albies possess small finlets along their dorsal and ventral sides which allow them to make quick changes of direction. Their anatomy makes the fight an exciting one filled with multiple long runs and multiple trips to your backing. Generally these fish do not give up, and when the conditions are right, they can drag a fight on for a long time.

How to Fish For Albies

Fishing for albies is not for the novice angler. These fish are tough, frustrating, and require experience to not only present a fly correctly, but also hook and land them. Fishing for albies can be done from both shore and vessel, but it is far more difficult from shore. False albacore move frequently and quickly, making the need for a vessel that much more important. Albies are pelagic hunters, and can be found in open water just off shore. When fishing for albies from shore, it pays to be in the right place at the right time.

Albies are a particularly finicky fish. As well adapted hunters, they will hone in on individual baitfish within a school. As a fly angler, you must put your fly in front of where an individual or group of albies is moving. In other words, you need to lead these fish otherwise you will spend the day casting behind them due to their speed. Once the fly is in the water, you will need to strip it back as quickly as possible. Moving the fly quickly will make it stand out and allow for an induvial or group of false albacore to hone in on it and strike.

Albies may or may not slam your fly. Sometimes an albie take will feel like a small tug or bump on the other end. You will need to set the hook by strip setting as you would for other saltwater fish. Once hooked, the real fun begins.

When you realize your albie is hooked, make sure you clear your line as seamlessly as possible. Albies take off in a hurry and will leave you with a broken leader and a broken heart if your line is tangled at your feet or around your reel. Depending on the size of the fish and the conditions, albies will give you several runs, and will almost always take you into your backing at least once. The fight can last awhile and by the end you may be the one who is exhausted rather than the fish.

Trials and Tribulations

Albies will frustrate you, period. The best fishermen may struggle to catch albies. Action can happen quickly, and if you are not ready for action, then you may miss your chance at these fish. I have had the pleasure of catching several albies in my life, however I have had multiple lucky outings because I was able to receive assistance untangling line at my feet. These things will happen but they are part of the allure of these fish. If these fish were easy to catch, then the joy of putting in the work to catch them would not be nearly the same.

Conclusion

Albies are one of the most fun fish to target in New England. Their rarity throughout the year and challenging nature make catching even one per season well worth the outing. I only have the chance to chase them a couple of times each season, and every time I have come away with a great story to tell. They are unlike any other gamefish that migrates through New England between the summer and fall, and I hope that their numbers continue to persist so that we may catch them for years to come.