ALBACORE ON THE HORIZON

[dodoman]

Well fellas, I decided to put up an article on offshore albacore fishing.


what are the best methods and time of year to fish for albacores.

During the late months of spring or early months of summer, the albacore migrates from the far west and they run a circular pattern from California up north through Washington , then head west to Japan, and back this way every year.

The first to arrive here are what called the scouts. They navigate through the colder water, usually around the break temp and follow it up here from the south.
The first to arrive are usually the smaller grade fish, and if you notice on the fish count they are in the 20 range.
This is the first of the schoolies who are caught and it brings everyone’s attention.
As the months go by you’ll notice how the fish are being caught are lager then the first batch of schoolies.
The 30 to 50 lbers start showing in August il late October, at times.
Every year is different, some years, you’ll have months and months of wide open action, and other years you’ll only have a school or 3 cruising by.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

Your best bet is to keep an ear out or pay a real close attention to the reports.
For Example:
First week of July the fish count is 150 per boat.
2 week of July the fish count is 230 per boat.
3 week of July the fish count 310 per boat.
As the fish count inclines to a great number, BE AT YOUR LAST MINUTE NOTICE TO RESERVE A SPOT, IF YOUR LUCKY TO FIND ONE.
The rates go up pretty quick, so it’s best to reserve early, if your suspicion is right.
In August and September, the Bluefin, Yellowfin and Dorado may or may not show up.
When the report shows Mako and Dorado have shown in the counts, this is also a great time to head out.
The Yellowfin are not to far from the Mako, and you’ll find it is a lot of fun fishing the variety and not knowing what going to get your bait.
The Bluefin are usually found in the mix with the albacores.
At times, the larger Bluefin will school up together and head in there own way, following or leading the pack behind them.
The Dorado, Yellowfin and Albacore can be caught under kelp.
HOW DO WE CATCH ALBACORE?

Albacore are the easiest fish to catch. They will hit live bait, irons, plastic, or anything that resembles bait.
WHEN YOU DO FIND A SCHOOL OF ALBACORE: The Albacore are usually found while trolling. Be ready at the SLIDE, if you’re not at the troll.
They have troll rods strapped to the back of the stern with 3 to 5 rods out.
While the boat is moving in search of school fish, they will pass up the small schools to get the boat in the larger schools.
Back to trolling: if you are on the troll team, best to use feathers in 4 to 6 inch.
Best colors to use in the morning are light colors feathers such as zucchini, Mexican flag, Dorado, green/yellow, solid white, anything with light colors on them.
In the darker hours, I would suggest using darker colors such as rootbeer, black/purple, black/green, or anything in the dark category.

FISHING THE SLIDE
AS THE TROLLERS GETS THE FIRST HOOK, they will yell out HOOKUP!!! This is the time to be ready with your rod to do the slide.
The slide method is pretty easy:
AFTER A TROLL HOOKUP, you run to the sides of the boat and drop your iron/bait/plastics (preferably IRON).
THEY HOLD ON BETTER, as the boat makes its turn and kill the engine to a slow or completely off.
Its hard to judge which way the boat is going to turn, (but that’s a different subject).unless, you have been paying really close attention to the captain’s pattern. If he always turns the boat to the left, then slide on the PORT STERN side.
If he turns to the right, slide on the STARBOARD STERN side.

FISH THE IRONS.This is one of my favorites
Fishing the iron is one of the easiest ways to catch a variety of species.
Best of all, you don’t have to wait in line to get live bait.
Some boats allow you to fish the stern on limited loads.
As the boat arrives to a kelp patty, it is best to be at the bow and get the first shot at the kelp, BEFORE THE BOAT MAKES A COMPLETE STOP.
The Yellowtail and Dorado are the fastest to get your iron.
Usually in the first 10 second of the sink, I would wind up fast.
If no hits, cast out again and let it sink to 20 sec.
Then 30
Then 40, until you find the depth of the fish.
Once you find the depth of where the fish are, continue with the same drop count.
At times, the larger Bluefin are way down at 60 to 100 ft.
Best at early dawn (before sunlight), drop a chrome/blue color as far down as possible. The Bluefin will hit at drop most of the time.
The common iron colors to use are blue/white and blue/chrome.
This is only my opinion on colors..........I’ve seen dodo pattern work better.

WHAT BOAT SHOULD WE GET ON.
There are plenty of boats out there, and some prefer to fish Bluefin more than others.
It is best to reserve a multiday boat, anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 days.
The longer boat trip, you have a better chance on chasing 100lb bluefins, FURTHER OFF SHORE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF BOAT LIST AND COST.
You can hop on a (what its called) a lunch pail trip, or get on a more luxuriest trip, A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE: better food, limited load, better bunking or private state rooms.

When multidaying, you can experience different species of game fish than the overnighters.
You can fish 20 to 60 lb bait rods and have no problem with what fish are going to hit your bait.
I would stand back and have a drink first, Watch what size fish are being brought to deck before i grab a suitable rod.
Live baiting is fun also.
Lots of patients involved when Albacoring.
They can be boiling at top water and you’re just dang right in a middle of a wide open bite, or you flyline for hours and no hits.
When you’re not sure WHAT BAIT TO USE, ask the deckhands, they’re in and out 24/7 fishing none stop for them albacores.

Fellas, THE DODO wants to wish everyone a super good luck for those who are heading to the albacore grounds.
Oh, forgot to mention tackle.

Tackle suggestion:
7fter firm rod 20lb bait /plastic
7fter firm rod 30lb bait
8fter jig stick 40lb iron
6fter troll rod is optional, BOAT TO HAVE LOANERS .
6 1/2 fter heavy for big baits, use this rod on longer trips.

[Max Estep]

Thanks for the info yo !

[jodi805]

good info.nicely put together.

[surfmaster]

while most of the info is pertinent and somewhat accurate

you are setting people up to get yelled at or worse -
you are not addressing important issues that EVERYONE needs to know 1st.
Such as boat etiquette.

For example if I have a troll fish on and somebody casts across my line because he should fish the slide and I lose what maybe my only fish or the whole school for the boat - do you think I or the whole boat is going to be pissed? i mean what the hell it's only $ 185 + for a 1 day and I' got money to burn -right?

you don't address the most important Aspect of TUNA/ Albacore fishing COOPERATING WITH YOUR FELLOW ANGLER
How about the tuna shuffle? how about no angles no tangles? or follow your fish

if it's a pick bite and someone with more money than experience tries to pull some of the stuff you suggest - there are going to be a LOT of Pissed off people

If - you've been on a lot of offshore trips -you've seen this happen

and by you not addressing the issue - you help perptuate - these actions that ruin a trip.

I DO APPRECIATE you trying to help people out which is way cool - but remember this is the internet where anyone can look at this

you don't build the roof then the sides etc.of a house and put the foundation last do you?

there were so many people who tried to pull this BS last year because

hey they were king of the 1/2 day boats or legends of fishing in there own mind and we lost a 100+ plus fish -the only thing that saved us was the capt. was great ( he addressed the issue) and we found other fish.

If your going to offer advice don't assume that other people do or do not have your experience - and for some people they can only afford or have time to be able to take 1 trip - and they don't need to have it ruined because some jerk thought he knew what he was doing because he read it on the internet or else was uninformed or misinformed .

[cst]

Nice article Dodo.
One thing though, put the iron away when the dodos come to play.
dont want one to jump, throw the iron and have 5 ounces of jig and a treble flying towards the boat.

And you forgot to tell people to FOLLOW YOUR LINE. No angles no tangles.

so to summarize
No angles no tangles
When the dodos come to play, put the iron away
You pump 'em you dump 'em (though this doesnt really apply to bigger fish).

[Walt]

Normally when I see a post by the DODO I hit the delete button, anyone who has 5000 posts in 14 months deserves lite duty.

However in this case Louie has spilled his hart out trying his best to help thoes with limited Tuna Fisning experience. And I have to say l got some good tips from his post. The basics condensed, all one has to do follow his directions to obtain a good shot at decking some meat. To Cover all the bases would take a small book. I thought he did great keeping the esentials specific and to the point. I could eaisly list another 10 points to cover including a 20 point fishing ediquette rant. Admitting that concern for your fellow fisherman is an important part of the cattle boat expierence and deserves prime coverage, its important to remember that writing an educational article, off the cuff, trying to keep it as brief as possible so as not to hog the board is one tuff stunt, a real challange. Its easy to miss something important. And its great that we can all help fill in the gaps for the important "stuff". The fact remains that Louie made an effort to help everyone become a more successful fisherman. We need more efforts like his.

Walt

[mickeysindahous]

Nice write up Louie! As for boat ettiquette, that's just 1st grade stuff. If you're on a boat, it's your responsibility to be conciencious of your right/wrong-doings on the boat. Boat ettiquette is a no-brainer when it comes to moo moo's. One's should possess enough sense to apply this to long range boats as well and bump it up a bit.

If you find yourself on a boat where you've got 1/2 boat kings anling & tangling, then someone's not doing their job - captain & his crew. For the amount of $$$ that these rides cost, I'd expect a good briefing by the captain so as to make our trip successful & enjoyable.

I'm glad I read your post Louie, as I was hoping to jump on an Albie run this year. Let's hope they show up in large numbers soon.

Kudos Dodo-Meister!

[TunaTickler]

Sweet report DoDo....If someone gets in your way once just kindly remind them that next time they get in your way you might be using them as bait if they dont stay the Fu!# out of your way...Like Mickey said if the Capt and crew don't say anything tell them you want another free ride, or better yet your money back so you can get on a boat that's ran properly.

[dodoman]

i want to thank everyone for pointing these issues out in the open.
THE DODO did forget or was to busy posting up the imortant issues.

NO ANGLE/NO TANGLE IS A LARGE ISSUE ON faster moving pelagics.
these species are not your ordinary hose hold pet.lol

i agree with you all on the boat etiquittes.
i would agree that the capt / crew should and always have a dicussion on proper tackle use and help your self away from another hooked fish.

many boats on a wide open situation do not have the man power to help each and every one at the same time.
ITS OUT DUTY, to help one another if possible.
If im on a hooked fish, and my line crosses over/under the person next to me,
I WOULD WORK MY WAY OUT OF IT, AND /OR THE GUY NEXT TO ME CAN DO THE SAME.
working as a team MORE FISH ON THE DECK.
TUNA FISHING , WELL you got to be on your toes at all times.

ONCE AGAIN , THANKS FOR POINTING THIS OUT.

[pharoah28]

Narrator. ( the sound of line flying out of my rod makes me twitch)

[fishtaco]

Excelent topic dodo
The boat etiquete is basic in everyone on a overnighter to 15 dayer
that's not the subject here, but ALBACORE. thanks

There is a million things that are said and people repeat
no irons on dorado, well, dorado tires quick
and represents no more danger than a yellowtail with a iron.
but boat crews go nuts when someone bounces a fish with a iron
is just a overreacting safety rule. the iron can fly, bla bla bla
another topic alltogheter

and there is small line, a nono,
takes foreve to land a fish and creates tangles

same with mini avet reels, new fisherman circle the boat
on that mini reel causing tangles, leave it for the island.

a bunch of things moe to be addressed but the topis is albacore

were ready to go, when?

[dodoman]

yes, the dodo/ iron is not a great combo.

what i have studied and learned is to cut off the treble and use siwash !!!!