False Albacore: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Cape Cod and the Islands, MA.

Fishing region

Season in Cape Cod

Peak months: Sep, Oct.

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OTW Sept 2025: albies showed in force in Buzzards Bay in early September as usual, with a huge resurgence in October; crowds of boats from Woods Hole to Cuttyhunk. Martha's Vineyard Derby weighs false albacore (a 19.91 lb boat fish set a Derby and state record, mvderby.com). OTW Oct 31 2024: scattered schools from Cotuit to the Elizabeth Islands. (Our inference)

Season by region

Myrtle Beach	JFMAMJJASOND
Long Island	JFMAMJJASOND
North Shore MA	JFMAMJJASOND
Cape Cod	JFMAMJJASOND
Rhode Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Connecticut	JFMAMJJASOND
North Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
South Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
Delmarva	JFMAMJJASOND
Southern NC	JFMAMJJASOND
Southwest Florida	JFMAMJJASOND
Panhandle	JFMAMJJASOND
Alabama	JFMAMJJASOND
Lower Texas	JFMAMJJASOND

Where to find them

Buzzards Bay, the Elizabeth Islands (Woods Hole to Cuttyhunk), south-side beaches from Cotuit, and Martha's Vineyard shore spots during the Derby (OTW).

Usually past the bar or outside inlets; blitzes come and go fast.

What to look for

Fast surface blitzes on small bait with birds over them.

What to throw

Metal casting jig (diamond, Hopkins or Stingsilver style)1 to 2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Fast steady retrieve for mackerel; let it sink and rip it up for blues; jig near bottom for weakfish.

Epoxy jig3/8 to 1 oz, Small, matched to silversides, bay anchovies and sand eels. Fast steady retrieve through the school.

Silver casting spoon (Clarkspoon or Drone style)1/2 to 1 oz, No. 0 to 1 / 2.5 to 3.5 in. Burn it. Fast, steady, just under the surface.

Topwater popper or walk-the-dog plug1 to 2 oz, 4 to 6 in. Popper: sharp pops with pauses. Walker: rhythmic side-to-side twitches.

Leader

20 lb fluorocarbon on 10 to 20 lb braid, 4000 size reel, 7 to 7.5 ft medium rod.

Common mistakes

Retrieving too slowly; burn the lure
Casting into the middle of the school instead of ahead of it

Landing

Grab the leader and tail and hold the head still; they shake violently.

Handling

Violent head shakes can drive a hook into a hand

Control the head and tail before unhooking.

Keep or release

Mostly released. Use 12 to 20 lb fluorocarbon or mono leader; lighter fails on their small abrasive teeth (OTW Sept 2025).

Recipes for false albacore

Typical: unknown. Large: Massachusetts state record and Derby record boat false albacore of 19.91 lb (mvderby.com, 2026). 19.91 lb, Martha's Vineyard Derby 2026 (reported as a new Massachusetts state record).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the MA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

On The Water: What's Biting in September on Cape Cod? (Allen, Peros, Rathgeber, 2025) (Angler knowledge)
Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby (dates Sept 13 to Oct 17 2026 per Vineyard Gazette and derby calendar) (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: Cape Cod Fishing Report, Oct 31 2024 (Red Top Sporting Goods, Eastman's Sport and Tackle) (Angler knowledge)
Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: little tunny (Official source)
Coastal Review, Oct 2024: little tunny, fat albert, false albacore (NC) (Angler knowledge)

All the fish of Cape Cod

False Albacore