Species guide · California
Albacore tuna fishing in California
Thunnus alalunga, a pelagic species also called albacore, longfin tuna and tombo. Listed for the Northern California and Southern California regions. Peak season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Coastal Waters from Point Arena to Point Reyes California out to 10 nm at 57, one of 3 California bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Northern California
Peak season, about 4 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Not present
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Sep to Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): Aug to Oct.
Research notes, Northern California region
North and central coast ports (Eureka, Fort Bragg, Bodega Bay, Morro Bay) see albacore late summer into fall when warm offshore water pushes inside range. Highly variable year to year with the migration path (CDFW).
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Southern California
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
No peak months. In season (shoulder or peak): Aug to Sep.
Research notes, Southern California region
Historically a mid-summer peak (July-August) for the San Diego and Los Angeles CPFV fleet per CDFW, but the southern California albacore fishery has been weak or absent in most recent seasons as the stock tracks farther north and offshore. Treat as low reliability; boats here mostly target bluefin and yellowfin now.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 3
California bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's albacore tuna score this hour.
Best window today 11 AM-10 PM (60) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (69) · 27 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (54) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (63) · 28 named spots
Best window today 7-10 AM (47) · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 8 AM (47) · 9 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: East Santa Barbara Channel from Pt. Conception to Pt. Mugu CA including Santa Cruz Island, Humboldt Bay, Humboldt Bay Bar, Inner waters from Point Mugu to San Mateo Pt. CA including Santa Catalina and Anacapa Islands, Monterey Bay, San Francisco Bay South of the Bay Bridge, San Pablo Bay, Suisun Bay, the West Delta and the San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge and Waters from Pt. Sal to Santa Cruz Island CA and westward 60 nm including San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands.
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 58°F to 68°F, best between 60°F and 65°F.
- Water depth
- 300 to 12000 ft of water.
- Structure
- Bluewater, open water, canyon and bank, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water, with light current.Tide stage has little effect 30 or more miles offshore. Albacore follow temperature breaks, the warm side of upwelling fronts and chlorophyll edges, so SST and fronts should drive the score, not tide.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 6 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Albacore hold 30 to 100 miles off Oregon and Washington in clear blue water around 60 to 65 degrees, usually along a temperature break. Troll clones, cedar plugs and diving plugs at 6 to 8 knots until a fish hits, then stop and work the school near the surface with live anchovies, swimbaits or iron. Bar conditions and the long run decide most trips before the fish do.
- Methods
- trolling, live bait, casting, jigging
- Lures
- clones (plastic squid skirts), cedar plugs, feather jigs, deep-diving plugs, iron jigs, swimbaits
- Bait
- live anchovy, sardine
Regulations
California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with CDFW Sep 20, 2026. Rules shown verified Sep 13, 2026.
25 per day
Season: No closed season on file
In addition to the general limit of 20 finfish.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026
10 per day
Season: No closed season on file
Tuna filleted on a boat or brought ashore as fillets south of Point Conception must be bagged individually by fish and cut into the six pieces Section 27.65 describes. In addition to the general limit of 20 finfish.
CDFW 2026 California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (last updated July 17, 2026) · verified Sep 13, 2026