Albacore Tuna are found
on all 3 coasts. They are
often referred to as a
long-finned tuna because
of the long pectoral fin that extends beyond its dorsal fin.
Albacore tuna have a torpedo-shaped body with a sharp
tail that helps them swim through the water at high
speeds.
These fish are found in schools that can sometimes
number in the thousands. Albacore tuna are often found
on temperature breaks that can be hard to find. Anglers
usually start off by trolling for these fish until they locate
the schools. Fishing for schooling Albacore tuna can be
very exciting. It is common to have tuna hit every single
rod that is being trolled all at once. You will know when
you find a school of Albacore tuna because the rods get
bent over in a hurry. It is very possible to have a dozen
fish on at once if you have that many rods in the water. If
you don’t find the schools though, fishing will be tough.
Catching Albacore Tuna
Trolling is very important because you can cover lots of
water looking for the schools of tuna. Once you find a
school, chumming will keep them in the area. On the
Pacific coast, chumming with live bait is key and
anchovies are a preferred bait to chum with. The Atlantic
coast fishermen chum with cut bait because the live bait is
not as readily available. Herring, menhaden and
butterfish are popular baits for chumming on the Atlantic
coast. By chumming, anglers can keep the tuna close to
the boat allowing them to catch fish by casting some bait
out near the boat.
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