The heavy-duty bruisers of the fall season have arrived here en masse. I’m talking about the explosive, fast-swimming false albacore. The battle is on for light-tackle enthusiasts.
False albacore, also known as albies, are a dynamic line-pulling fish of the tuna family, and this year they arrived earlier than usual in and around Montauk.
“The false albacore showed up big time,” Capt. Savio Mizzi of Fishooker Charters out of Montauk reported this week. “On the first day, we had about a dozen plus a green bonito. It’s a great start to the season.” (By the way, green bonito are excellent to consume.) Spanish mackerel have also recently joined in the mix as a bonus.
Last year, albies made a very weak appearance at the end of September for barely a week or two. The 2024 season was widely seen as a bust.
But not this year. For a most appreciative light-tackle clan, the albies have brought a welcome new entry to pursue. The action should last for several more weeks.
Anglers anxiously await their annual return to enjoy their robust fight on hand-tied flies and artificial metallic lures that mimic small baitfish like sand eels, especially those manufactured by the Hogy Lure Co. Hogy is located in Falmouth, Mass., and its lures and jigs are top-notch and highly recommended when pursuing false albacore.
“Years ago, the albies would come at the end of August, but this is certainly the earliest they’ve been here in quite a long time,” observed Capt. David Blinken of North Flats Guiding in East Hampton, a light-tackle and fly-fishing specialist. The savvy skipper hopes that the albies will stay around for the next few months.
The flesh of a false albacore is particularly bloody, overly oily, and strong-tasting; anglers are primarily on the water to enjoy their line-screaming fight. Few, if any, retain them for the table.
False albacore fight better pound for pound than anything else in our local waters aside from, maybe, an oversize bluefish. Hooking up with a spunky albie is a true treat. Get out and catch them while you can.
Growing up here on the East End, I never came across a false albacore. They rarely ventured west of Gardiner’s Island.
It was only in the fall fishing out of Montauk where our paths crossed as I hurled diamond jigs in the rips off Montauk pursuing striped bass and bluefish. When I hooked up an albie, it was always remarkable to see their unmistakable speed and strength. They are truly the muscle cars of fish.
Elsewhere, especially far offshore, the fishing has been dynamite of late.
“The tuna fishing has been on fire,” proclaimed Capt. Steven Forsberg Jr. of the Viking Five Star out of Montauk. The boat recently returned from a three-day adventure offshore for its 12 fares, with a full limit of yellowfin tuna, two bigeye tuna, two swordfish, and a solid catch of tilefish. Fishing jigs have been the magic lure for tuna during the daytime hours.
Back in the bays, Sebastian Gorgone, the owner of Mrs. Sam’s Bait and Tackle in East Hampton, was enthusiastic about the fishing in many local areas as we delve deeper into September.
“Porgies are still hanging tough along with blowfish in Three Mile Harbor,” he said. “Blue-claw crabs remain in the harbors and coves, and the weather has been great of late too. Fall is just around the corner.”
Farther west, Ken Morse of Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Southampton and Sag Harbor was equally happy with the false albacore and bonito fishing scene on the north side of Montauk.
“The fishing for both of them has been great,” he said. “And the surfcasting for bass between Ditch Plains and Camp Hero has been truly fantastic. It’s the best it’s been in many years, especially at sundown and at night. Most of the fish are huge, well over 36 inches.”
Elsewhere, Morse said that porgies remain plentiful in the Peconics, and that weakfish up to 20 inches in length continue to roam about. A fluke or two can also be had on the drift as they begin to migrate to their winter home far offshore.
“And in a sign of fall, some keeper-sized striped bass have been landed at Jessup’s Neck,” he added. “The waters are chilling down and the bass are beginning to move in.”
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