Albacore
Albacore is a migratory, open-ocean tuna that has anchored South Africa's commercial pole-and-line fishery since the 1970s. Vessels work out of Cape Town and Hout Bay, chasing schools through the Atlantic off the south-west coast.
It also supports a boat-based recreational fishery, particularly in the Western Cape, where anglers target it during its seasonal run through local waters.
Scientific Name: Thunnus alalunga
Also known as Longfin tuna, Longfin, Albie
- Deep metallic blue on the back, fading to silvery white on the belly — cleaner and more uniform than most other tuna species.
- Pectoral fins are exceptionally long, reaching well past the anal fin — the single most reliable field mark that separates albacore from yellowfin or bigeye.
- White trailing edge on the tail fin; another quick ID feature when the fish is alongside the boat.
- Typical fish run 7–20 kg; individuals can reach around 40 kg and over a metre in length.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A wide-ranging, open-ocean species that moves through temperate and subtropical waters — found in the Atlantic off South Africa's south-west coast, within the Benguela Current system.
- Not resident year-round; migrates into South African waters following warmer surface temperatures, generally arriving from the south.
- Operates in the epipelagic and mesopelagic zones — mid-water to near-surface in open blue water, not associated with reefs or the seafloor.
- Commercial and recreational effort concentrates within roughly 200 km of Cape Town and Hout Bay, though fish can be found much further offshore.
Key Locations
- Cape Town and Hout Bay — the main departure points for both commercial and recreational albacore fishing, with the bulk of effort concentrated off the south-west coast.
- Waters off Cape Point — historically productive for tuna, where the Atlantic's temperature gradients concentrate migratory fish seasonally.
- Offshore Atlantic grounds within 200 km of the Western Cape coast — the core range for the South African fleet during the season.
Specific Spots
- Schools are located by trolling, then worked with pole-and-line or lures once found — the fish itself defines the spot, not fixed structure.
- Look for temperature breaks and colour changes in the water column; albacore stack where cooler upwelled water meets warmer surface currents.
- Feeding schools often show at the surface around baitfish concentrations — birds working over the water are a reliable indicator offshore.
- Once a school is raised, staying on it matters — commercial crews and recreational boats alike will work the same school for extended periods.
Albacore FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Albacore?
Feather jigs and cedar plugs trolled at speed are a standard way to locate and raise schools; once fish are up and feeding, switch to faster presentations. Metal slice lures and knife jigs worked at pace imitate the small baitfish and squid albacore key on, retrieve fast enough that the lure barely stays in the water.
When is the best time to fish for Albacore?
Season opens around October as fish arrive from the south following warming water, this is when the run begins off the Western Cape. November and December are typically the peak months, with the most consistent schools and best catch rates.
How do you catch Albacore?
Most South African albacore fishing happens from boats working offshore out of Cape Town and Hout Bay. The standard approach is to troll until a school is located, then switch to pole-and-line, jigging, or live-bait techniques to work the school while it stays up.
What do Albacore eat?
Squid are the primary forage off South Africa, stomach analysis of Western Cape fish shows mesopelagic squid dominating the diet, which makes squid-pattern lures and jigs a logical first choice.
Where do Albacore live?
A wide-ranging, open-ocean species that moves through temperate and subtropical waters, found in the Atlantic off South Africa's south-west coast, within the Benguela Current system. Not resident year-round; migrates into South African waters following warmer surface temperatures, generally arriving from the south.
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