Species guide · Massachusetts
Little tunny fishing in Massachusetts
Euthynnus alletteratus, a pelagic species also called false albacore, albie and fat albert. Listed for the New England region. Peak season, about 4 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in Rhode Island Sound at 80, one of 8 Massachusetts 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.
New England
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: Not present
- 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, New England region
Arrive around Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and the south side of Cape Cod in late August, then Buzzards Bay, Rhode Island and eastern Long Island Sound, staying through mid-October. Arrival has shifted earlier with warmer water. Massachusetts has adopted a 16-inch minimum size.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 8
Massachusetts bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's little tunny score this hour.
Best window today 5-9 PM (82) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 6 PM (84) · 27 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (81) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (81) · 151 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (81) · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 6 PM (83) · 40 named spots
Best window today 3 PM-12 AM (79) · Best day Wed, Sep 30 at 7 AM (80) · 158 named spots
Best window today 2-6 PM (77) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 3 PM (77) · 122 named spots
Best window today 2-6 PM (77) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 3 PM (77) · 409 named spots
Best window today 2-6 PM (78) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 4 PM (80) · 44 named spots
Best window today 2-6 PM (72) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 3 PM (72) · 2 named spots
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
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Synced with MassDMF Sep 19, 2026.
No reviewed little tunny rule for Massachusetts is on file yet. Check with MassDMF before you keep one.