On October 8th 2022, aboard the Hard Tale, a 21-foot Carolina Skiff Captained by Brian Sullivan, I hooked this beautiful False Albacore in a  strong outgoing current, off the Charlestown Breech way in Rhode Island. She fought for 20-minutes, breeching the surface several times, and taking me around the gunnel three times, before landing on the Port Side. In the end, she had pulled so hard that she broke the reel, requiring “hand drag” on the spool. She weighed in at 14 lb 8 oz and was 34 in in length, gaining game fish recognition from The State of Rhode Island. Because of the sheer magnificence of the fish, the valiant fight that she demonstrated, the captain and I decided it was most appropriate to set her back to the Sea. After measurements and photographs were taken, I set her back in the water and restrained the tail until she was sufficiently revived. In an instant upon release, she rocketed toward the bottom, only to surprise us both with one more surface breech, glowing against the daytime Sun. I feel blessed to have had this once-in-a-lifetime, all time best experience with a False Albacore.

Robert Kokoszyna