In the Pacific Ocean, similar size albacore travel together in school groups that can be up to several miles wide. At the onset of the migration, (during the spring and summer months in the western Pacific Ocean), the young albacore form relatively small loose and broadly scattered groups. As the season progresses, the groups become more compact and contain greater number of schools. The more sedentary, older albacore typically form smaller, more compact and independent groups. In general terms, albacore schools are not as large or as dense as those of some other tuna species such as yellowfin or skipjack (Foreman 1980, Anon 2001).

Although occasionally albacore may appear with some other tuna species, mixed species aggregations are not as frequent as they are among tropical tunas. Moreover, although some schools may be found in the vicinity of floating objects (Anon 2001), the association with FADs is not as strong as in tropical tunas.

Knowledge about albacore vertical behaviour is very limited (Laurs et al 1980, see “Habitat Preferances”).