False Albacore - Hook size and Albies

[Sentience]

I have always thought that flies for albies should be tied on 1/0 hooks or smaller. It always seemed to me that they have small mouths, especially when contrasting them with stripers. However, guys on the tying forums have been insisting that albies can easily take up to 4/0 hooks. One guy said that he saw albies spitting up snapper blues at Harkers this year. Is smaller better?

[AlderBrookFarm]

I tied some on #4's and then heard the same thing. The guide I fished for Albies with this past fall likes the bigger hooks because they're stronger and he doesn't like clients to lose fish due to hook strength or size. There weren't any left by the time I got to go out with him so I'll have to take his word for it.

[bigbonita]

I tied some on #4's and then heard the same thing. The guide I fished for Albies with this past fall likes the bigger hooks because they're stronger and he doesn't like clients to lose fish due to hook strength or size. There weren't any left by the time I got to go out with him so I'll have to take his word for it.

i believe it depends what bait the fish are on. up in the upper buzzzards bay region, in particular spots where juvie herring and peanuts congregate in dense schools, i find the albies to be particularly easy to catch and they usually hit a variety (both type and size) of flies and lures. when they are still on smaller bait (silverside, sandeels), i have a much harder time with it. the only exception is when i fish that 'triangle' area of eastern ct/ western ri. i seem to have good luck even though those fish are usually on bay anchovies. but then, i think it's simply the number of fish. out at the race or sluiceway, there are so many albies at times, that even when they're being fickle, you are still going to catch some by just letting your fly drift in or near a school of 'chovies getting their butts kicked. just my .02
rich n

[Tom G.]

I have always thought that flies for albies should be tied on 1/0 hooks or smaller. It always seemed to me that they have small mouths, especially when contrasting them with stripers. However, guys on the tying forums have been insisting that albies can easily take up to 4/0 hooks. One guy said that he saw albies spitting up snapper blues at Harkers this year. Is smaller better?

While I have taken albies on size 4/0 butterfish patterns when targeting yellowfin tuna, I generally use smaller 1/0 down to size 4 hooks. I size the hook to the bait I am trying to imitate in my flies. When albies are on bay anchovy I use size 4.

Tom