Skipjack tuna are one of several small pelagic fish that
are caught in the Mid Atlantic. Their horizontal stripes
below the lateral line distinguish them from
Atlantic bonita and
false albacore. They are often caught
together with small bluefin, yellowfin, or other tunas.
Skipjack tuna are usually caught using small spoons, cedar
plugs, feather jigs or other lures. Deep running spoons
rigged behind planers are especially effective. Skipjacks
are often found around a wrecks, hills, weed lines, buoys,
and other structure.
Skipjack tuna can be very exciting when anglers encounter large skipjack (10 pounds or more). Most often, anglers
catch smaller fish from 15 miles off the beach out to the canyon edges.
Skipjack tuna make excellent shark bait, strip baits and good table fare when they are large enough.
Strips cut from the belly of fresh skipjack tuna make excellent baits for catching dolphin, triggerfish,
jacks, and sea bass.
