Massachusetts · Cape & Islands
FALSE ALBACORE FISHING
IN MARTHA'S VINEYARD
Martha's Vineyard is an excellent destination for false albacore fishing, with peak season in September, October. Book a charter and target false albacore with local experts.
About False Albacore Fishing in Martha's Vineyard
False albacore — also called little tunny or fat alberts — are the premier light-tackle gamefish of the fall run from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Their incredible speed, long runs, and surface-feeding blitzes make them a fly fishing and light-tackle favorite.
False Albacore — also called Little Tunny or "Fat Alberts" — are the premier light-tackle gamefish of the fall run from North Carolina to Massachusetts. These small tuna relatives are incredibly fast, making screaming runs that peel hundreds of yards of line in seconds. They feed on the surface in visible "blitzes," crashing through schools of baitfish (bay anchovies, silversides) with explosive surface feeds. While not considered great table fare (dark, bloody flesh), false albacore are prized by fly fishers and light-tackle enthusiasts as one of the most exciting fish to catch on artificial lures.
Scientific name: Euthynnus alletteratus
False Albacore Seasonal Calendar — Martha's Vineyard
Month-by-month availability for false albacore in Martha's Vineyard, MA.
How to Catch False Albacore in Martha's Vineyard
Techniques & Bait
Casting Deadly Dick metal lures, Hogy epoxy jig sticks, and small Kastmasters into surface-feeding blitzes is the go-to technique. Small soft plastic jigs (white or silver Albie Snax) on 1/4-1/2 oz jig heads retrieved at high speed just below the surface are deadly. Fly fishing with small (size 1-2) Surf Candy, Clouser Minnow, and Albie Whip patterns on intermediate lines is considered the ultimate fall fly fishing experience. The key is matching the small baitfish (2-3 inch bay anchovies) — oversized lures and flies are rejected.
Recommended Tackle
Light to medium spinning rod (7 ft), 3000-4000 reel, 10-15 lb braid, 15-20 lb fluorocarbon leader. Fly: 8-9 weight rod, large arbor reel with 200+ yards of backing, intermediate or clear-tip line. Light tackle maximizes the fight.
Best Nearshore Fishing Spots in Martha's Vineyard
Top spots where local captains target false albacore and other nearshore species.
Wasque Point Rips
Wasque Point on the southeastern tip of Chappaquiddick Island is where Muskeget Channel's powerful currents create standing rips that concentrate baitfish and attract striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, and bonito. The rips are among the most productive nearshore fishing grounds in southern New England, with explosive surface feeding during the fall run. Both boat anglers and surf-casters work the Wasque rips for trophy fish from September through November.
Squibnocket Point
Squibnocket Point on Martha's Vineyard's southwest shore is a rugged boulder-strewn coastline where Atlantic swells crash against glacial rocks, creating white water that holds striped bass and bluefish. The point's submerged boulder fields and kelp beds provide ambush cover for stripers feeding on lobsters, crabs, and baitfish. Surf-casting from the rocks at Squibnocket during a southwest wind and incoming tide is considered one of New England's ultimate striper-fishing experiences.
Lobsterville Beach
Lobsterville Beach stretches along Menemsha Bight on the Vineyard's northwest shore, where a gradually sloping sand bottom and consistent current create ideal conditions for bonito and false albacore. The beach's shallow bar and trough system concentrates baitfish, drawing schools of albies and bonito within casting range of shore-bound anglers during September and October. Fly-fishers wade the bar targeting false albacore on small epoxy flies in some of the clearest water in the region.
Cape Poge Gut
Cape Poge Gut is the narrow tidal channel connecting Cape Poge Bay to Nantucket Sound on the northeast corner of Chappaquiddick Island. The gut's swift currents on tidal exchanges create a natural feeding station where striped bass, bluefish, and bonito ambush baitfish pouring through the opening. Anglers position boats at the gut's mouth or wade the adjacent flats to intercept fish during peak current flow.
Other Species in Martha's Vineyard
More fish you can target while visiting Martha's Vineyard.
False Albacore Fishing in Martha's Vineyard — FAQ
The peak months for False Albacore fishing in Martha's Vineyard are September, October. During these months, False Albacore are most active and abundant in the Martha's Vineyard area.
False Albacore fishing charters in Martha's Vineyard are typically nearshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Casting Deadly Dick metal lures, Hogy epoxy jig sticks, and small Kastmasters into surface-feeding blitzes is the go-to technique. Small soft plastic jigs (white or silver Albie Snax) on 1/4-1/2 oz jig heads retrieved at high speed just below the surface are deadly. Fly fishing with small (size 1-2) Surf Candy, Clouser Minnow, and Albie Whip patterns on intermediate lines is considered the ultimate fall fly fishing experience. The key is matching the small baitfish (2-3 inch bay anchovies) — oversized lures and flies are rejected.
No — when you book a charter in Martha's Vineyard, your captain provides all required Massachusetts fishing licenses as part of the trip.
False Albacore regulations in Massachusetts include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting False Albacore in Martha's Vineyard, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, Tautog, Black Sea Bass, Fluke. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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