False Albacore: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Long Island, NY.

Fishing region

Season in Long Island

Peak months: Sep, Oct.

JFMAMJJASOND

OTW (Papciak): Montauk albie action can start around Labor Day, the third week of September is the usual estimate, and the run lasts until severe weather cools the ocean (just after Veterans Day in 2017, the third week of October in 2018). OTW 2026: expected in the east by the first week of September and into the central Sound around mid-September; back at their regular Montauk spots on October 8. (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

Montauk first: the Point, the lighthouse and Montauk Harbor, often in casting range; then the eastern Sound and, from about mid-September, the central Sound. Follow bay anchovies and sand eels.

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

The meat is darker and stronger tasting than other tunas (Florida Museum). Check the New York rules.

Recipes for false albacore

Typical: unknown. Large: unknown. NY false albacore record 18.05 lb (2021).

New York (marine waters) limits

No state limit entry.

Last checked 2026-10-17. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. New York State DEC fishing regulations.

Sources

On The Water: Fly Fishing the Montauk Fall Striper Run (Papciak, 2019) (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: Long Island and NYC Fishing Report, August 20, 2026 (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: Long Island and NYC Fishing Report, August 27, 2026 (Angler knowledge)
On The Water: Long Island and NYC Fishing Report, October 8, 2026 (Angler knowledge)
Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: little tunny (Official source)
Coastal Review, Oct 2024: little tunny, fat albert, false albacore (NC) (Angler knowledge)
NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records Program (Official source)

All the fish of Long Island

False Albacore