Is it albacore time yet?

vacuum sealed its pretty darn good...not as buttery as it was while still warm...but pretty good

Buoy temps dropped today.     I gotta quit watching them so much.

-Allen

You're gonna drive yourself mad, like I did last year.

Nearly got divorced, but the flat calm wide open on fishtraps with busting bait all around was worth it, even if it wasn't on a yak

You're gonna drive yourself mad, like I did last year.

I watched them all winter.  There was albacore water about 100 miles out there to the SW through January.  I kept hoping it would push in.  It didn't.  The past week has been the best water since then.

I've been an albie-nut since the mid 90's, long before I fished off of kayaks.  The mid-2000's were tough, but last year was the best I've seen in awhile.  Got my fingers crossed that we have a good year this year.

-Allen

Funny, I got introduced when I. Moved back here in 2000....and try to get out at least once or twice every year...when I start to see that 60 degree water on trmpbreak, and the blue on the chloro...well you know.
Work meetings get moved if there's a window looking to open and I start with the phone calls....

Can one of you explain the blue on the Chloro thing for the newb here?  Many thanks

Also a post of some Albacore rigs would be nice as well!

blue is clear water-- not much plankton, Albies like that open ocean stuff.

blue is clear water-- not much plankton, Albies like that open ocean stuff.

Well, they like that clear water up against a hard break of dirty water.  Line that up with a temp break and you have legendary conditions.

I actually wonder if they really like that clear water or if it is that the dirty water is way harder to fish.  We spend the majority of time trolling around.  The albacore are down in the water column, 100's of feet.  They look up and see a boat going by and decide to check the commotion out.  When they come up they see the lures behind the boat and strike at them.  If they can't see the boat from 200' down, they never come up.  That's my theory at least.

-Allen

good theory...

they're down 200 feet, except when they're not! 
Like last year (when i almost ended in divorce of going), fish breezing all over, bait busting and boiling up against the boat, troll fish, jig fish, swimbait fish, throw anything small!  over there! Jumpers!
Double-triple- wait for it...five way....

mayhem and blood everywhere...

phew...

I think i need a cigarette after that (and i don't even smoke)

Hate that albacore blood though...it never goes away. Your hands will smell for weeks. And god forbid it gets on your clothes.
I wonder how far they can "see" because I kinda doubt they can see farther than 50ft. So I'm not sure that poor water clarity prevents them from biting (odds are people just don't concentrate their efforts in dirty water; therefore less hookups). But they can probably "feel" farther than they can see...

Okay talk to us about rigs and tackle

Hate that albacore blood though...it never goes away. Your hands will smell for weeks. And god forbid it gets on your clothes.
I wonder how far they can "see" because I kinda doubt they can see farther than 50ft. So I'm not sure that poor water clarity prevents them from biting (odds are people just don't concentrate their efforts in dirty water; therefore less hookups). But they can probably "feel" farther than they can see...

Take a lemon, but it in half and rub it on your hands.  Smell problem solved.  Works for me for any fishy smells.

I don't doubt that they "feel", however they don't have those oversized eyes for nothing.  I believe sight has a big influence on pelagic predators.  I've seen dorado focus in on a lure from over 100' away and beeline straight to it.  I've seen time and time again that albacore have a distinct preference for specific colors.

Maybe they don't see 200', and they use sight to refine what they are "seeing" as they get closer, but if the water has visibility less than their sight distance, it can't be helpful.

-Allen

Okay talk to us about rigs and tackle

Will get back to you later this evening on this when I have more time to type ...

-Allen

Many options to choose from....

cedar plugs in natural, zucchini, purple

Rapala XRap Magnums size 20s and 30s  best colors: Purple Mackerel, Silver Blue Mackerel, Blue Sardine

Rapala Countdown Magnums size 18s and 22s  best colors: Silver, Purple Mackerel, Firetiger

7" jethead hoochies  best colors: zucchini, Mexican flag, orange, pink, purple/black

6" feather hoochies  best colors: zucchini, Mexican flag, orange

40-65lb braid on Avet reels  GLoomfis rods

Use Abu Garcia Revo reels for tossing swimbaits or irons

If you like lures that make a lot of noise/bubbles ... check out Catchy Tackle Jet Heads.  Used these back in Florida for just about anything you'd troll for.  Spanish Mac's to Marlin.