Beware the Albie’s Siren Song | Fall Run Survival Guide
Albies or stripers? Choose wisely.
The fall run is a chaotic and wonderful time to be a striped bass angler. Even though fishermen throughout most of the Northeast can count on about two solid months of fishing for migrating stripers between Labor Day and New Year’s, there’s a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” feel that causes us to cast with a sense of urgency that wasn’t present back when the bass were migrating north. To help make the most of this year’s fall striper migration, we’ve compiled this “Survival Guide” by surveying some of the most dedicated surfcasters in the Northeast and sharing some of our favorite tips for the final months of the striper season. – Jimmy Fee
In recent seasons, false albacore have challenged the striped bass’ supremacy as the most coveted catch of the fall. When the torpedo-shaped speedsters invade nearshore waters in September, many fishermen put their striper fishing on pause to pursue the cheap thrills of these false tuna. I’ve been guilty myself, diving headlong into albie dawn patrols, abandoning my midwatch striper hunts, only to come to my senses in mid-October with the sobering realization than much of the striper migration has already passed me by. Every season needs a couple of albie trips, but don’t let them take your eyes off autumn’s true prize of a cow striped bass.
“The two species complement each other so well…albies by day, bass by night.”
– Earl Evans
“What’s a false albacore? Is that a daytime fish? Because if I have to give up a night tide to catch one, it might as well not exist.”
– Jerry Audet, In Deep Outdoors, Massachusetts
“Albie season and Monday night football = Peace and quiet for the dedicated surf guy.”
– Frank Goncalves
“The albie run from the beach is by far one of my favorite parts of the fall run, whether on fly or light spin. Who can resist? Albies all day and bass at night.”
– Craig Cantelmo, Van Staal Reels, New York
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