Intro | Fat Alberts | Tackle | Albaclousers | Presenting the Fly | Releasing Albacore

Heavy Tackle

Much of the water around the Outer Banks inlets is relatively shallow, with few deep channels and dropoffs. This means that fly rodders often hook albacore in water less than three feet deep. When hooked in such shallow water, the fish have nowhere to go but away.

One of the earliest lessons I learned about Outer Banks albacore is that a "tarpon-class" reel, capable of holding at least 250 yards of backing, is necessary. I have watched a number of experienced saltwater anglers shake their heads in disbelief as 200 yards of backing melted away quickly--known locally as a "tunny melt." I have caught lots of bonefish in the tropics; however, without diminishing the great sporting qualities of bonefish, I am convinced that albacore caught in shallow water are much stronger and half again as fast as any bonefish.

False albacore, with their torpedo-shaped bodies, smooth skin, retractable dorsal fins, and high-speed tails, are hydrodynamic marvels. It is worth noting that for virtually all other inshore species available to fly rodders along the Banks--including redfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and sea trout--a top-quality reel is not necessary. False albacore are the exception to the rule.

On rare occasions I use an 8- or 9-weight rod for little tunny, but 90 percent of the time I use a 10-weight and always recommend a 10-weight to anyone coming to sample the fishery. There is no question that albacore can be hooked and landed on an 8-, 7-, or even a 6-weight rod, but most anglers using light rods fight fish too long, which can often kill them.

I believe in using enough rod, and to me a 10-weight is ideal and a 9-weight is the minimum that should be considered. The fight usually lasts 15 minutes on average when the fish is played hard, but the length of fight and survivability is affected by a lot of other factors, including water temperature and oxygen content. The cooler the water, the higher the oxygen content. I have seen a number of superb anglers including John Randolph, editor/publisher of FFM, fight an albacore hard for over an hour before getting it to the boat for a quick live release. You will be glad you have a 10-weight outfit when a beautiful "slick calm" morning turns into a 25-knot-wind afternoon. A 10-weight is simply a more powerful fighting and casting tool.

I use both floating and intermediate fly lines for false albacore, because this is a sight-casting sport. The fish take flies at or near the surface. I prefer floating lines simply because the name of the game is to make a quick, accurate cast or a succession of quick casts to get the fly among or in front of moving fish. An intermediate line may cast a little better on windy days, because its smaller diameter helps cut through the wind. If you plan to fish in the surf for albacore, use an intermediate or even a slow sinker. Almost all action occurs on the surface so high-density sinking lines and shooting-tapers are not necessary. Stay away from the "tropic" tapers or lines made specifically for bonefish or tarpon. Most of these lines have a braided-nylon core and tend to get too stiff in cool air temperatures and colder water. Use a good weight-forward line with a Dacron core.

For shallow-water albacore I use 10- to 12-foot leaders. This includes a 9- to 10-foot leader tapered to 12-pound-test looped into a 2-foot section of 40-pound-test monofilament that serves as the permanent butt section at the end of my fly line. Tie the flies directly to the 12-pound tippet. The small pointed teeth of false albacore are not cutting teeth, so you don't need a wire or heavy monofilament shock tippet.

Of the several hundred albacore that have come to my boat over the years, almost all of them have been caught on 12-pound tippets. On a few occasions, however, when the water has been exceptionally calm and clear I have been forced to go down to a 10-pound tippet because albacore have great eyes and can be leader-shy. As with rods, I believe in using a tippet strong enough to fight the fish fairly and release it alive.

Tom Earnhardt lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is the author of Fly Fishing the Tidewaters and Boats for Fishermen.

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