Overview
The most accessible tuna on the US Pacific coast. Arrives in summer with warm currents and is the primary target of offshore trips.
Identification
Extremely long pectoral finStreamlined bodySilvery coloration on the bellyLarge eyesSingle dorsal finSickle-shaped tail
- Body
- It has a long, streamlined body that contributes to its great speed.
- Colouration
- The back is dark blue, while the sides and belly are silvery with golden reflections.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not very evident
- Growth
- Fast, especially in the early years of life when it disperses into the open ocean.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Scombridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Thunnus thynnusThunnus obesusThunnus maccoyiiThunnus atlanticusThunnus tonggol
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- open_sea, pelagic
- Preferred bottom
- pelagic
- Geographic distribution
- Found in all temperate and tropical oceans. More common in the Pacific and North Atlantic.
- Micro-habitat
- Prefers pelagic waters far from the coast, often near warm currents.
Prefers open oceans, often approaching the coast only when temperature conditions permit.
Presence by sea area
Eu Golfo BiscagliaPeak
Eu Azzorre Madeira CanariePeak
Na Costa Ovest NordPeak
Na Costa Ovest CentroPeak
Na Costa Ovest SudPeak
Na Baja CaliforniaPeak
As Giappone SudPeak
As Giappone NordPeak
Open Pacifico TempPeak
Open Atlantico TempPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- cephalopods, small pelagic fish, mackerels
- Secondary prey
- shrimp, anchovies, sardines
- Occasional prey
- squid, fish larvae
- Feeding behaviour
- A fast predator that forms large schools while searching for food. Uses speed to suddenly attack schools of prey.
- Natural predators
- mako shark, orca, sailfish
Follows the movements of schools of small fish and cephalopods, adapting the diet based on local availability.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- large_schools
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Makes transoceanic migrations for reproduction and food searching.
- Seasonal behaviour
- During summer, it moves towards temperate coasts following warm currents, in winter tends to seek deeper and warmer waters.
- Juveniles
- Juvenile albacore form schools with other species for protection and mainly feed at the surface.
- Adults
- Adults prefer more open waters and often move to follow prey availability.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- June, July
- Spawning depth
- Between 20 and 200 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic eggs, small in size, freely floating in the water.
- Larval stage
- The larvae are pelagic and feed on zooplankton until they grow large enough to hunt small fish.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Albacore Tuna
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
DayDawn, Dusk, All day
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
Open pelagic zonesNear warm currentsAround schools of sardinesOff the coast
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
TrollingDriftingLongliningSurface fishing
Other applicable
Trolling OceanicoTraina CostieraLive BaitingDriftingDeep DroppingDrifting LeggeroPoppingSpinning OffshoreSpinning PesanteVertical Jigging
Recommended baits
Live sardinesFresh cephalopodsFish-shaped artificial luresShrimp
Baits by pressure
Low
Cedar plugFeather jigMetal jig medio (40-100g)Sabiki fluorescenteSkirted trolling (Pusher/Chugger)Cucchiaino ondulanteHoochie / Octopus rig
Medium
Acciuga vivaSardina vivaEsca viva (generica)Trancio di sardina
High
Acciuga vivaCedar plugFeather jig
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Combative and fast, it presents many challenges for the angler; it pulls hard and swims in circles near the boat.
- Handling
- Use gloves to avoid cuts from sharp fins; handle carefully to avoid stressing the fish.
- Release
- Release quickly while trying to minimize the time out of the water; keep the fish horizontal and gently move it back and forth while in water.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The IGFA all-tackle world record for albacore is 40.8 kg caught in Seogwipo, South Korea, in 2019. This species can reach maximum sizes of around 140 cm in total length and weights over 40 kg, although specimens between 10 and 20 kg are more commonly caught. A prized species in Italian waters, it is often valued as a trophy when exceeding 20 kg.
- In the kitchen
- Commonly used for making canned tuna; also highly valued raw as sashimi.
- Cultural notes
- Often symbolizes speed and strength in seafaring cultures; features in many sport fishing stories.
- Historical notes
- Commercial fishing for albacore began in the early 1900s, establishing itself as a key resource for coastal nations.
