They’re here. False albacore aka little tunny, Fat Alberts, (bonita for the Florida folks) whatever you want to call them, the speed demons are inundating the Northeast waters from Rhode Island to New Jersey.

Albie fishing is fast a furious and you have to be prepared to chase the schools wherever and whenever they pop up. Schools of albies will always be on the move, whether you target them from the beach or via boat. Sunup hours until around 9 AM and evening hours until dusk are best times to find fish rainbowing out of the water crashing on baitfish which can include spearing rainfish, and peanut bunker.

When finding a school, motor up ahead of them and try to predict and intercept their path, shutting the engines off and drifting into them. Fat Alberts have superior eyesight, and when casting to them, avoid any terminal tackle such as swivels, snaps, etc. From the main running line, tie a 26 to 34-inch 14-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader via a uni-to-uni knot connection and connect the lure directly to the end of the line using an improved clinch knot for metals, and a Homer Rhodes Loop knot for bucktails and plastics.

Thin profile metals such as #2 Deadly Dicks and tailless Ava 007’s mimic slender baits such as spearing and rainfish, but ½ to 1 ounce Crippled Herrings and Kastmasters resemble the wider profile of peanut bunker to a T. Bucktails should be in the ½ ounce to 1-ounce size, in white or chartreuse, and be tipped with a 4-inch size split-tail Fin-S fish, Bass Assassin, Berkeley Gulp Swimmin Minnow. Metals are cast out and worked back as fast as you can reel. Bucktails can be cast and bumped back and twitched in spurts, to allow the action flutter and entice.

A lighter 6-1/2 to 7-foot spinning rod such as a Shimano Terramar, Shimano Sustain 4000 reel spooled with 15-pound Silver Thread monofilament is the best for minimal disturbance in the water. Stray away from using braided lines if you can as albies will key in on it and be wary. A fight with a false albacore is nothing short of intense with drag-ripping runs. Get ready for some fun!