Species guide · Florida
Little tunny fishing in Florida
Euthynnus alletteratus, a pelagic species also called false albacore, albie and fat albert. Listed for the South Florida and the Keys and South Atlantic regions. Off season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 NM at 56, one of 19 Florida bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Off seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
South Florida and the Keys
Off season, about 1 more week- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Off season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Off season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: Shoulder season
No peak months. In season (shoulder or peak): Oct to Apr.
Research notes, South Florida and the Keys region
Present year-round along the reef edge and nearshore; caught trolling and often kept as bait. Seasonal peaks are less defined than farther north, so treat these values as low confidence.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
South Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Off season
- Feb: Off season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Off season
- Aug: Off season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): Mar to May, Sep to Dec.
Research notes, South Atlantic region
North Carolina recreational catch peaks in September and October and the Cape Lookout run from mid-October through November is the best-known shore and small-boat fishery; North Carolina commercial landings peak November-February. Fish winter off the Carolinas and Florida and move north in spring, and Florida lands most of the Atlantic coast recreational harvest. Few states regulate them.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 19
Florida bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's little tunny score this hour.
Best window today 9-10 PM (56) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 5 PM (68) · 22 named spots
Best window today 9-10 PM (56) · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 9 AM (66) · 4 named spots
Best window today 9-11 PM (55) · Best day Thu, Sep 24 at 9 AM (63) · 21 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (55) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (67) · 88 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (54) · Best day Fri, Sep 25 at 9 AM (64) · 92 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (45) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (58) · 11 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (52) · 199 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (59) · 82 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (48)
Best window today 9-11 PM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 4 PM (47)
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (60) · 6 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (53) · 109 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (52) · 16 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (50)
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (47)
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 PM (48)
Best window today 9-10 PM (34) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 4 PM (47)
Best window today 9-11 PM (32) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (47)
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (29) · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 4 PM (36)
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 58°F to 82°F, best between 63°F and 74°F.
- Water depth
- 5 to 150 ft of water.
- Structure
- Inlet, point, rip, jetty, shoal, open water, reef and beach, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers moving water and outgoing tide, with moderate current.Albies pin bait against points, jetties and inlet mouths on a moving tide, and the ebb out of inlets often sets up the best surface feeds. In open water they follow bait more than the tide.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 4 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Little tunny travel fast in schools that pin bait against inlets, points, jetties and tide rips, usually within a few miles of shore and often in less than 60 feet. Stay off the school's path, wait for it to surface within range, and cast small metal or epoxy jigs with a fast retrieve. When fish stay down, troll small feathers along bait edges and color changes to find them.
- Methods
- sight casting, run and gun, trolling, fly fishing, live bait
- Lures
- small metal casting jigs, epoxy jigs, slim soft plastic jerkbaits, small trolling feathers, surf candy style flies
- Bait
- live pinfish, live spot, live pilchards, bay anchovies
Regulations
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Synced with FWC Sep 19, 2026.
No reviewed little tunny rule for Florida is on file yet. Check with FWC before you keep one.
Other Florida species
- Atlantic croaker
- Atlantic tarpon
- Common snook
- Crevalle jack
- Gray snapper
- King mackerel
- Red drum
- Southern flounder
- Spot
- Spotted seatrout
- Summer flounder
- Black drum
- Black sea bass
- Bonefish
- Cobia
- Florida pompano
- Gag grouper
- Gray triggerfish
- Greater amberjack
- Mahi-mahi
- Permit
- Red grouper
- Red snapper
- Sailfish
- Sheepshead
- Spanish mackerel
- Wahoo
- Weakfish
- Yellowfin tuna
- Bluefish
- Striped bass