Penn Rare

Posted in Penn Fishing Gear by Penn Fishing Gear on November 15, 2011

Penn Rare

Fishing False Albacore

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.

False albacore have been spotted along the coastlines from as far south as Florida and as far North as Massachusetts. Generally you’ll find them traveling in schools and they are often forced to the surface by pods of baitfish. Once they are near the surface, they maintain similar speed to the tuna and they will quickly wipe out a school of baitfish. Sharks and other similar game fish make a meal of the false albacore.

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 are cruising along looking for your next fishing hole, watch for diving seagulls. Chances are fairly good that they are diving for baitfish and you may just find that you’ll be on top of a school of false albacore.

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 Reels.