The arrival of false albacore is a celebrated event every August in the Northeast, beginning the transition from summer to fall. We’ve all heard, watched, and read about typical albie strategies. So, instead of the same information about albie etiquette and matching the hatch, my goal is to deliver a few unique, outside-the-box tips that may add a few more digits to your albie totals on a given day. As a young captain and angler on Cape Cod, I’ve chased these fish from the days when Deadly Dicks and metals were all that were needed through the creation of epoxy jigs, soft plastics, eggs, and flies. The entire landscape of false albacore fishing has changed into a highly detailed, competitive market for lure makers to separate their product from the rest. When it comes right down to it, the less complicated you make the pursuit, the better off you will be.
Focus on Casts, Not Color
Sometimes, you just have to put the tackle box away and confidently fish one bait. On days when albies ignore everything you throw at them, you may shuffle through colors and sizes of lures, looking for a silver bullet. Instead, spend that energy on the fish themselves.
Focus on exactly how the fish are acting on that day. When you’re dealing with picky fish, a well-timed, well-placed cast and retrieve is more important than lure color nine times out of ten.
When engaging a school of feeding albies, cast beyond the feed, not into it. Do not get overexcited when they pop up—read the feed for a second and make the cast. Once you’ve determined the direction the albies are feeding, cast beyond the school, ahead of its path, and put your jig on an intercept course with the fish. Matching the hatch is always be important, but the next time you are struggling with picky fish, keep this in mind.
Use Your Electronics
Believe it or not, electronics can play a huge role in false albacore fishing. The usual approach is to look for birds, bait, and surface activity, then chase those down. However, if you have electronics at your disposal, using them can help put you in the right place at the right time.
Start with your charts. If you are in an area where albies have been consistently feeding, observe the location on your charts. More often than not, the fish will be consistently showing on a specific contour line, depth change, or structure. Identifying the areas where they are likely to pop back up will keep you one step ahead of the fish while other fishermen are left chasing blitzes.
Also, use your sonar and, if available, side imaging. Monitor these electronics around the fish to see if you can mark schools of bait and the albies themselves. Staying on the move at a slow speed lets you scan various areas until you mark fish or bait on your screen. When you do, idle for a minute and see if they push to the surface.
Fine-Tune Your Retrieve
One of the most underexplained aspects of false albacore fishing is how to retrieve epoxy-style jigs. On the water, I regularly see anglers casting into feeds and retrieving while imparting all kinds of twitches, bumps, and action with the rod. When the fish are heavily feeding and committing to lures, that is fine. However, if you are working picky fish or making a lot of blind casts, doing too much can be ineffective.
Make long casts, then keep your rod tip down and maintain a steady retrieve. Avoid unnecessary twitching and keep the jig just below the surface on a straight line. I tell anglers to squeeze the rod handle tight and lock your wrists. This will keep the rod tip steady and allow the jig to move just under the surface, flashing its colors. This is especially effective when it comes to blind casting in areas where the fish have shown.
Get the Right Gear
Whether you’re a seasoned false albacore fishing veteran or an entry-level angler, using the proper tackle can really increase success. One of my favorite discoveries is using a faster-action rod. You still want to go with the lightest rod possible—many anglers enjoy catching them on medium-light and light-action rods—but a faster action makes it easier to keep the rod tip still while retrieving, which helps casting jigs swim perfectly just under the surface.
Jumping up a weight on your favorite albie rod to a medium-heavy or heavy can also make a difference in perfecting the retrieve on an epoxy jig. A light, whippy rod has too much movement at the tip that will cause the jig to jump in and out of the water instead of staying consistently just under the surface. A faster-action rod will also add some distance to your cast when paired with the right reel, which I like to keep small and fast.
Hold the Hookset
There is a ton of energy that goes into chasing these inshore footballs, which can make anglers a bit trigger happy. When you finally get a bite after casting into a blitz of finicky false albacore, what tends to come next is a hard-hitting hookset derived from hours of awaiting that strike. Sometimes, a fish inhales it enough for the hookset to work, but more often, you will pull your lure right from its mouth. Try to stay concentrated on the strike. When you feel the hit, reel into the fish. Continue the pace of your retrieve right up until your reel locks up. Avoid the high-stick hookset and bring the rod across your body, allowing the action of the rod to set the hook.
Reduce your RPMs
There is a method to this. If you pay attention to your engine RPMs while looking and waiting for a pod to surface, you’ll see that staying at or below a certain level will keep the fish up longer. For me, that number is 700. Keeping your movement under 700 rpms allows for mobility as well as stealth.
No one wants to be the guy roaring from pod to pod at breakneck speed, but no one wants to miss out on feeds either. Observe and pattern using your eyes and electronics, then stay on the move at a low RPM level.
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WATCH: Drag-Screaming Kayak Albies on Cape Cod | Kayak Fishing the Coast, Ep. 3
