Atlantic Bonito

False Albacore (Euthynnus alletteratus)
Often misidentified as Little Tunny, the False Albacore — locally called Bacoreta — is distinguished by the dark, irregular worm-like markings on its upper back and the absence of spots below the pectoral fins. They school in large, fast-moving groups that herd baitfish to the surface in explosive feeding frenzies visible from a kilometre away — crashing water, diving birds, and the sound of thousands of small fish being driven upward. The fishing method is straightforward: get upwind of the school, cut the engine, and cast small metal jigs or spoons into the feeding fish. Retrieves need to be fast — False Albacore rarely strike a slow-moving lure. On light spinning gear they are exceptional fighters, running faster than their size suggests possible with a smooth, sustained burn that tests drag systems. They do not tire in the conventional sense; the fight ends when the fish decides to stop, not when it is exhausted. Season peaks September through October, often overlapping with Little Tunny on the same grounds.