Delaware Fish Facts for The Recreational Angler

The False Albacore is small in body size compared to other tuna species.

On its back, the False Albacore has a steel blue coloration with dark wavy lines. It has a white belly.

Illustration by Duane Raver, Jr.

Season	Open Year-Round
Size Limit	No Size Limit
Daily Limit / Person	No Limit
Delaware Range	Atlantic Ocean
Abundance in Delaware Waters	Common
General Habitat and Food Preferences	Generally, False Albacore are an oceanic species occurring in large schools. They feed primarily on small fishes, shrimps, and squids.
Did You Know?	False Albacore is the most common tuna in the Atlantic Ocean. False Albacore (little tuny) are sometimes called "Fat Albert's".
Common Lures and Baits	Fishermen targeting False Albacore often troll or cast lures. When trolling, fishermen often use small lures dressed with colored feathers. Popular lures include feathered jigs, shiny spoons, and brightly-colored metal lures that can be casted far and retrieved quickly that imitate small baitfish.
Typical Sizes Caught	False Albacore are commonly caught in the range of 5 to 11 pounds by anglers.
Citation Minimum Length and Weight	Live Release Award Adult: 26 inches minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 24 inches minimum Sport Fishing Tournament Award Adult: 12 pounds minimum Youth (age 15 and under): 9 pounds minimum
Delaware State Record	26 pounds 7 ounces Mike Spayd 2022

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