The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Albacore Thunnus alalunga
Albacore Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 26–34 in, 15–30 lb |
|---|---|
| Maximum | up to about 4 ft and 88 lb |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years |
| Range | Open temperate ocean worldwide; off California they push up from Baja in a warm-water band that sits well outside the islands and the shelf break in late summer and fall. |
| Habitat | Clean blue offshore water, roughly 59–66°F, worked along temperature and color breaks well past the shelf. |
| Diet | Anchovies, sardines, saury and squid chased in open water. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Albacore
- Steel-blue back grading to dusky silver sides
- Extremely long pectoral fins reaching past the anal fin origin
- White trailing edge on the tail (caudal) fin
- Rounded football body with a relatively small second dorsal
- Finlets dusky/dark, not bright yellow
Tell it apart: Albacore's pectoral fins are exceptionally long (reaching past the second dorsal and anal fins) and the tail has a clean white trailing margin — both unique among the local tunas.
Easily confused with: Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Bigeye Tuna
Side by side: Albacore vs Bigeye Tuna, Albacore vs Bluefin Tuna, Albacore vs Yellowfin Tuna
How to Catch Albacore
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- A narrow late-summer run, July and August — troll feathers and clones at trolling speed, then stop and fly-line bait when the jigs go off.GearTuna feather jigsTrolling clone luresLive-bait hooks
- A narrow late-summer run, August through September when warm water pushes in — troll feathers and cedar plugs, then bait-fish a stopped school.GearTuna feather jigsCedar plug luresLive-bait hooks
- A short warm-water run, August and September when the blue water moves in — troll feathers and cedar plugs, then bait-fish the stopped school.GearTuna feather jigsCedar plug luresLive-bait hooks
When & Where Albacore Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Northern California Nearshore | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Northwest Offshore |
Albacore Regulations
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.