2024 Fall Albies, Mid-Season Report

We are officially at the midpoint of our 2024 Fall False Albacore Season.  I have the day off the water, and I'm trying to catch up on all the things I've slacked off on while living on the ocean the last 4 weeks.  Among celebrating my son's birthday today, answering emails, editing photos and fixing broken gear, I thought it would be a good time to get together a much-needed fishing report. 

So far, we have had a really good season.  We started seeing a few Albies around in early September, but our real Albie season kicked off in late September.  By early October, the Albies were raging at Cape Lookout.  We had the right winds, plentiful bait, and lots of hungry fish.  Some days were easy and some days we had to work for them, but every day has been a good day.

I've had the pleasure of meeting some new to me anglers and catching up with my regulars.  Whether it was an anglers first Albie, first fish on fly, or even if it was their 1,000th fish, each time it's a thrill to watch these tunny foam at the surface, crush a fly and speed off in a blur.  I'm thankful for my repeat clients and for all of the new anglers who have given me a chance this fall.

Although Albies are our main target, I secretly hope to run into these fish while we search the waters off the Crystal Coast.  We've bumped into them a few times this month, and can't wait to tangle with them again.  

And then there's always the "day savers".  Whenever the northerly winds give way to a southerly breeze and the Albies go AWOL, the Bluefish are there to keep us busy.  They might be a pain when they bite your fly off in a school of Albies, but when nothing else is happening they are a welcome option.  We've had days with acres and acres of 3-10lb Bluefish blowing up poppers on the surface.

My anglers may come in search of Albies this time of year, but I hope they take home a much greater appreciation for the area and all the amazing things happening around them.  From Wild Horses to Sea Turtles to Dolphins to Eagle Rays to Mola Molas to Humpback Whales, we've seen some really cool stuff this fall.  

I've taken a bazillion photos over the last 4 weeks and there's no way to share them all.  Below are some of my favorites from recent trips, that tell the story of Albie Season much better than my written words could...

Beaufort Inlet swell.

Busting bait.

Releasing a tagged Albie.

The Parker Sou'wester at work.  Image by Perry McDougald.

Shrimpin'.

Tagging Albies.

Doubles.

Sunrise.

Bluefish madness.

Destruction by a school of "teeth".

Everyone loves a good bait ball.

Cobe-ee-yah.

Taxman is in town.

Ballyhoo!

Let 'em go, let 'em grow.

Albie afterburner.

Jump little children.

Getting the Blues can be a good thing.

Bickering over where they'll go for lunch.

All 3 in the same fish's mouth.

You could have made things easy, but you chose to make things tough...

Not your average snapper blues.

The one's I dream about.

Two for One Sale.

Tag, you're it!

Wiggle fish.

If only you knew how many near misses it takes to finally get this shot.

Flying Fish!

McFly at work on an October early morning.

If you've fished with me this half of the season, thank you!  If you are fishing with me the second half, I can't wait to see you.  And if we aren't fishing together this fall, well, I'm already booking for 2025.  Just sayin'.  Wish me luck folks, back to the grind in the morning.