False Albacore -- Number one top tip for success?

[David Churbuck]

Tom: what’s your number one "secret" tip for catching one of these fish?

[Tom G.]

Tom: what’s your number one "secret" tip for catching one of these fish?

Do your homework and learn how to shrink the playing field. The ocean is a big area to attack with a fly rod. It is all about location, location, location. Fish in an area where bait is being delivered or funneled into a tight area, a rip, a point or an inlet. Find out what time of the year your "hot spot" holds fish and on what tide. Then keep your fly in the water.

Tom

[David Churbuck]

Let's talk about "placement" some more. Psychologically, the hardest thing for me -- fishing in Nantucket Sound, the northernmost range of false albacore -- is narrowing down the waters to improve my odds. Captain Steve Moore, of Slamdance Charters, has long preached the importance of structure here on Reel-Time, and you, in your book, note a few awesome spots locally -- the Wianno Cut, Waquiot Bay, and Cape Poge Gut (aka Albie Alley). These are all great spots, and very logical. Confined areas moving lots of water with each tide. They're also nightmares at the peak of the season with run-and-gun fleets or elbow-to-elbow fishermen.

Down in the Carolinas I understand the trick is to find a dragger that has dumped its trash and by-catch.

But in open waters, with pods of albies popping up, what can you do to improve your chances? Look for rip lines? (if so, what's the preferred side of the rip) Anchor up and be zen and wait for the pods to come your way? Chum (no one seems to chum up north half as much as they do in Florida)?

Long question made short: what do you look for in open water, when you want to get away from the crowds and make your own music?

[bigbonita]

Let's talk about "placement" some more. Psychologically, the hardest thing for me -- fishing in Nantucket Sound, the northernmost range of false albacore -- is narrowing down the waters to improve my odds. Captain Steve Moore, of Slamdance Charters, has long preached the importance of structure here on Reel-Time, and you, in your book, note a few awesome spots locally -- the Wianno Cut, Waquiot Bay, and Cape Poge Gut (aka Albie Alley). These are all great spots, and very logical. Confined areas moving lots of water with each tide. They're also nightmares at the peak of the season with run-and-gun fleets or elbow-to-elbow fishermen.

Down in the Carolinas I understand the trick is to find a dragger that has dumped its trash and by-catch.

But in open waters, with pods of albies popping up, what can you do to improve your chances? Look for rip lines? (if so, what's the preferred side of the rip) Anchor up and be zen and wait for the pods to come your way? Chum (no one seems to chum up north half as much as they do in Florida)?

Long question made short: what do you look for in open water, when you want to get away from the crowds and make your own music?

in my few jaunts out with capt jack baliant of preston, ct, rips were the word of the day. the sluiceway, the race, and points over towards montauk are great spots to fish and it's a rip fishing situation. although i can't say for sure, it seemed like jack stayed over on the 'smooth' side of the rip (as opposed to the very choppy looking side) and on hook ups, sometimes we would drift into the rougher side during the fight. around the cape, i can't see how places like hedge fence and succonnesset shoal wouldn't be similar. as far as the ct/ny/ri rips are concerned, i don't know how drastic the the water dept change is that causes these rips. but i do know the the shoal vs deepwater areas of succonnesset and hedge fence shoals is pretty extensive. and it's the deep side that is the 'smooth side'.
rich n

[Tom G.]

in my few jaunts out with capt jack baliant of preston, ct, rips were the word of the day. the sluiceway, the race, and points over towards montauk are great spots to fish and it's a rip fishing situation. although i can't say for sure, it seemed like jack stayed over on the 'smooth' side of the rip (as opposed to the very choppy looking side) and on hook ups, sometimes we would drift into the rougher side during the fight. around the cape, i can't see how places like hedge fence and succonnesset shoal wouldn't be similar. as far as the ct/ny/ri rips are concerned, i don't know how drastic the the water dept change is that causes these rips. but i do know the the shoal vs deepwater areas of succonnesset and hedge fence shoals is pretty extensive. and it's the deep side that is the 'smooth side'.
rich n

Captain Steve Moore is right on! Structure is key! Sometime it is obvious like inlets, points and major rips like the Race. As David said these areas tend to draw crowds. When you can, fish them early and late in the day.

What is really rewarding is finding a pod or two of albies on your own. You'll have to fish secondary feeding areas, areas that are less obvious. Clues like a seam, color change, a weed line that might attract bait and actual bait schools or bait "stains." I have often found a redish brown "stain" of bay anchovy and just hung out until the albies found it.

Even a single bird can help you find a pod of albies. I have had a gull or tern which looked like it was following my fly actually be on an albie waiting for it to bust on bait.


Chum does work, almost everyone in Florida uses it and they use it quite a bit in North Carolina. Recently guides in NY/NJ have started to use it. It is not being use in the "triangle" as the current is too strong for it to be effective.

Tom