Features: These fish have dark blue backs, silver sides and bellies, and very long pectoral (side) fins. Albacore caught off the Pacific Coast are generally 21 to 30 inches long with the largest fish running about 35 pounds.

Habitat: Tuna are pelagic species, meaning they spend their lives in the open ocean. Albacore generally show up 15-200 miles or more off the Pacific Coast in mid-July and stick around through September. Albacore are usually found where surface water temperatures are at least 59 degrees Fahrenheit and the water has a distinct clear blue color (this is where chlorophyll levels are around 0.25 mg/m3).

Technique: Albacore anglers will often troll cedar plugs or diving plugs at 5 knots or faster. Other popular methods include drifting with live or dead bait, casting jigs to jumping schools of albacore, or dropping metal jigs to fish that are holding deep.