UTERAlbacore fishing in Northern California Coast
In Northern California Coast, albacore peak September and are around August–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. September: Peak if the weather allows.
Gone with the fall swell.
Albacore in Northern California Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyNot here
- AugustArrivingEureka and Fort Bragg boats find albacore 25–50 miles out on the warm breaks.
- SeptemberPeakPeak if the weather allows.
- OctoberLeavingGone with the fall swell.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish albacore near Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove
An exposed, wild coast of rocky headlands, pinnacles and a few harbors — Bodega, Noyo, Shelter Cove, Humboldt Bay, Crescent City — with the Eel, Klamath and Smith rivers coming out through sand bars.
What to use for albacore
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 60–72°F water, best at 62–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch albacore in Northern California Coast?
Peak season is September. Albacore are in Northern California Coast August–October. September: Peak if the weather allows.
Where do albacore hold in Northern California Coast?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Shelter Cove, Eureka, Trinidad, Crescent City.
What is the best bait for albacore in Northern California Coast?
Live bait: squid, sand eels. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for albacore in Northern California Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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