Species guide · Washington
Albacore tuna fishing in Washington
Thunnus alalunga, a pelagic species also called albacore, longfin tuna and tombo. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Peak season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm at 64.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Pacific Northwest
Peak season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Not present
- May: Not present
- Jun: Off season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jul to Sep. In season (shoulder or peak): Jul to Oct.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
Fish arrive off Oregon around late June. ODFW names July and August as best off Oregon; WDFW says August and September are most popular off Washington, 40 to 100 miles out. Fish can hang into October and, in warm years, November.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 1
Washington bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's albacore tuna score this hour.
Best window today 4-10 PM (69) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 8 PM (69) · 8 named spots
Not scored in this forecast: Admiralty Inlet, Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca, East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca, Grays Harbor Bar, Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands, Puget Sound and Hood Canal and West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca.
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
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with WDFW Sep 19, 2026.
No reviewed albacore tuna rule for Washington is on file yet. Check with WDFW before you keep one.