False Albacore - When did they become popular?

[David Churbuck]

Tom: False Albacore seem to be God’s Gift to saltwater fly rodders. But I never remember anyone trying to catch one when I was a kid. When did these fish start becoming popular with anglers?

DC

[Tom G.]

Tom: False Albacore seem to be God’s Gift to saltwater fly rodders. But I never remember anyone trying to catch one when I was a kid. When did these fish start becoming popular with anglers?DC

David, guides in the North East have been catching bonito for as long as they can remember, but catches of false albacore in any significant number has just been in the last 10 or 12 years. At Harkers Island North Carolina, author Tom Earnhardt was catching false albacore in the early 1980's,but they were considered a trash fish then. In 1994, Tom invited Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser and a few other well-known outdoor writers down to sample this fishery. After that, the word really started to spread. Bonito can tolerate colder water and arrive before and stay later than false albacore. I think the increase in false albacore numbers in the North East is at least in part to the warming of our waters.

[David Churbuck]

Interesting. So our grandfathers probably didn't see a lot of activity in the 40s through the 60s. Would you say the numbers of false albacore and bonito have been increasing along the entire Atlantic Seaboard due to warmer water temps, or is it a case of more anglers being on the water and aware of them?

[Mark Cahill]

I recall my dad catching one in the early 70's with either Skip Tripp or Spider Andresen. At the time, it was considered a very odd catch. Funny to think what an important part of our year they have become.

Who were the pioneers in the Northeast?

[Virulent]

Seems like they showed up when the stripers disappearred.

Sal

[Tom G.]

David, with regard to false albacore I definitely feel that they have expanded their range into the Northeast as a result of warmer water.

Tom

Interesting. So our grandfathers probably didn't see a lot of activity in the 40s through the 60s. Would you say the numbers of false albacore and bonito have been increasing along the entire Atlantic Seaboard due to warmer water temps, or is it a case of more anglers being on the water and aware of them?

[Tom G.]

Mark, I learned a lot about these fish from Cooper "Coop" Gilkes and Ken & Lori Vanderlaske on Martha's Vineyard, Tom Earnhardt at Harkers Island and Captain Steve Bellefleur from Stonnington, Connecticut. Steve guided me to my first false albacore and bonito and shared a lifetime of on-the-water knowledge.

Tom


I recall my dad catching one in the early 70's with either Skip Tripp or Spider Andresen. At the time, it was considered a very odd catch. Funny to think what an important part of our year they have become.

Who were the pioneers in the Northeast?

[PhilDKreal]

Mark, I learned a lot about these fish from Cooper "Coop" Gilkes and Ken & Lori Vanderlaske on Martha's Vineyard, Tom Earnhardt at Harkers Island and Captain Steve Bellefleur from Stonnington, Connecticut. Steve guided me to my first false albacore and bonito and shared a lifetime of on-the-water knowledge.

Tom

I remember when bluefish party boats were very popular on the Jersey shore in the seventies, during the month of August the "Little Tunny" would show up and tear up gear. You had to take off the wire leader of course, but it was something everyone would look forward to. We knew even back then that they werent good eating though. We use to call them freight trains as they would rip off a hundred yards of 25# test line in seconds.

I didn't see them for years after that, but I do remember bonito coming in and out of the Shark River inlet in belmar, again in late summer.