Albacore Tuna

With Albacore Tuna reaching docks in Oregon, I wanted to do a feature on this incredible fish.

Whether you are just fascinated with the highly migratory life of these species, or interested in what makes them a sustainable seafood option, this one is for you!

So what’s the big deal with Albacore?

Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) are a highly migratory fish and travel thousands of miles across the world’s oceans, following temperature gradients and food availability. Their migration patterns vary slightly between ocean basins, but they generally follow predictable seasonal movements. In the North Pacific, juvenile albacore (typically 2–5 years old) migrate from their spawning grounds in the western Pacific (near Japan and the Philippines) to the eastern Pacific, including the waters off the U.S. West Coast, during the spring and summer months. They remain in these cooler, nutrient-rich waters to feed and grow before returning westward in the fall and winter. This round-trip journey can exceed 10,000 miles.

They have sleek, torpedo-shaped bodies and unusually long pectoral fins, and are incredibly streamlined for speed and efficiency. They can swim continuously for days, reaching speeds over 50 km/h (30 mph). Unlike most fish, albacore are partially warm-blooded (endothermic), meaning they can regulate their body temperature above surrounding waters. This gives them a competitive edge in colder, nutrient-rich environments where prey is abundant (like the Oregon Coast)!

Buying Oregon Albacore Tuna off the Docks

The key migration drivers that help determine when Albacore hit our coast are water temperature and prey availability, but generally we start seeing Albacore in Oregon in August. This is one of my favorite times of year. It feels so lively on the docks and this fish feels so special that when Albacore Tuna Fishing Fleets come to shore they often sell fish directly off the boats! It’s always so fun chatting with these fishermen about their season and directly supporting their tireless efforts. Not to mention, Oregon Albacore is one of the best quality fish we have!