False Albacore

Season in Rhode Island

Peak months: Sep.

OTW Sept 2025: albie fever starts around September 1, ledges and rocky coast at the mouth of Narragansett Bay. OTW Aug 2026: albies right around the corner. Snug Harbor Oct 2026: good numbers along the beaches and Block Island. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Steep ledges and rocky shoreline around the mouth of Narragansett Bay, South County beaches and Block Island (OTW, Snug Harbor).

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.

Recipes for false albacore

Typical: 4 to 14 lb (fall NC fish). Large: Up to about 20 lb. SC record 29 lb 7 oz (1975).

Limits

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

Sources

• On The Water: What's Biting in September in Rhode Island? (Devin Donahue, 2025) (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Rhode Island Fishing Report, Aug 13 2026 (Ocean State Tackle, The Saltwater Edge) (Angler knowledge)
• The Fisherman: Snug Harbor Marina reports (Oct 2026) (Angler knowledge)
• Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: little tunny (Official source)
• Coastal Review, Oct 2024: little tunny, fat albert, false albacore (NC) (Angler knowledge)
• Carolina Sportsman: nearshore false albacore (NC) (Angler knowledge)
• NC Division of Marine Fisheries: little tunny (Official source)
• SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)

All the fish of Rhode Island