False albacore, also called little tunny and often nicknamed "albies" or "bonito" in Florida, are small tuna known for blistering speed. They are found along the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida and into the Gulf. While many anglers cast to them, trolling is an easy way to find schools and keep lines in the water.
Where and when
False albacore often feed close to shore around inlets, reefs, and bait schools. Fall runs along North Carolina's Crystal Coast and southern New England are especially well known. In South Florida and the Keys, they are common around reefs and wrecks much of the year.
Trolling speed
Albies are fast and often hit lures moving 6 to 9 knots. Faster speeds work well when they are busting bait on the surface.
Best lures
- Small feathers and jigs in white, pink, or chartreuse
- Small spoons that match glass minnows and anchovies
- Small bullet-style lures that track straight at speed
- Small diving plugs when fish are below the surface
Match the size of the bait. Albies can be very selective when feeding on tiny baitfish.
Finding schools
Look for birds diving over breaking fish. Troll along the edges of the activity rather than through the middle to avoid putting fish down. See reading birds offshore.
Tackle
Light tackle makes albies a blast. 12 to 20 lb class outfits with fluorocarbon leaders in the 20 to 40 lb range are common. Make sure your reel has a smooth drag and enough line for long runs.
Albies as bait
Many offshore anglers catch little tunny to use as bait for bigger fish such as marlin, sharks, and wahoo. Check local rules for using them as bait.
Albies vs other tuna
False albacore have wavy markings on the back and a few dark spots below the pectoral fin. They are different from true albacore, which live in cooler, deeper water. See our albacore trolling lures guide.
For other small tuna, see best lures for blackfin tuna and shop our small resin lures.
