Damn Good Skipjack Tuna Fishing Charters

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Skipjack Tuna Fishing Charters

Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Miami

8hr Offshore Big Game Trip

100% (108) Guided by Bryan
36 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,199
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Marathon

3-8 Hour Reef And Wreck Trip

100% (2) Guided by Kerry
28 ft 1 - 6 People From $750
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Honolulu

HALF-DAY SPORT FISHING ON OAHU

100% (2) Guided by Jeff
47 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,500
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Gulf Shores

Extended Offshore Fishing Trips

100% (34) Guided by Chase
35 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,350
Veteran Operated
This trip is managed by a veteran of the US armed forces.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Pensacola

Pensacola Wreck Fishing

100% (21) Guided by Larry
27 ft 1 - 6 People From $800
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Key West

Key West 47 Ft Hatteras

99% (106) Managed by Mark
47 ft 1 - 6 People From $1,300
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Everything to Know About Booking a skipjack tuna fishing charter

What are the best skipjack tuna fishing charters?

The best skipjack tuna fishing charters are:

What is a Skipjack Tuna?

The skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) is a member of the tuna (Thunnus) tribe, one of the four tribes in the Scombridae family, which it shares with mackerels, spanish mackerels, and bonitos. You may have heard it colloquially referred to as the balaya, cakalang, arctic bonito, mushmouth, oceanic bonito, striped tuna, or victor fish.

With a torpedo-shaped body made for fast swimming, and a strong sense of smell, they are excellent hunters. Their back is a dark purple or blue, that fades into silver on their sides and bellies which helps with camouflage. There are also four to six stripes on their sides.

They are fished for both commercially and recreationally. In fact, they are so popular for commercial fishing that if you’ve ever had canned tuna, it was probably skipjack.

How big do Skipjack Tuna get?

There is much conflicting information on the size of skipjack tuna, as they are so commonly confused with little tunny, bonito, and more. So lets set the record straight here: the average length of a skipjack tuna is 32 inches, and weighs about to seven to 22 pounds. They are one of the smaller tuna species.

What's the biggest Skipjack Tuna ever caught?

The all-tackle world record skipjack tuna was caught by Joeri Van Laken in La Gomera, Spain. On November 15th, 2020, Van Laken boated this 46 pound, 5 ounce monster.

Where is the best place to catch Skipjack Tuna?

Skipjack tuna are spread throughout tropical and temperate waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. They are a pelagic species, meaning they prefer to be in the open seas in the upper sections of the water column.

When should I catch Skipjack Tuna?

Skipjack tuna spawn year round, which means that they can typically be caught year round, especially in more tropical zones where the water is consistently warmer and prime for spawning. However, as you get towards more into temperate waters, the best season will be in between May and August when the waters are the warmest.

How do you catch Skipjack Tuna?

To begin, look for areas of surface irritation or sea birds, which will help you to identify where to start fishing. Skipjacks are a schooling fish, which means that trolling is the best method to catch them. For bait, live or strip baits, feathers, plugs, and spoons will all work great.

Skipjack are easily startled, which means they key to fishing them is to circle the boat around the school and let the bait drift through them. Once hooked, be ready for the fight!

Are Skipjack Tuna good to eat? What are the best Skipjack Tuna recipes?

Skipjack tuna is a very commonly eaten fish, being one of the most popular tuna served canned worldwide. They have a meaty, bright red flesh that has a mildly fishy flavor. It can be prepared and eaten canned, baked, seared, grilled, or raw.

There are many cultures around the world where skipjack tuna is the highlight of the dish. In Japan, skipjack tuna, known there as katsuo, is eaten raw in sushi and sashimi, or smoked and dried to make katsuobushi which is the main ingredient in fish stock, or dashi. Also, in Indonesia, it is enjoyed cured and smoked in a dish called cakalang fufu.

Recent Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Bryan is a great Captain! We had an awesome time

    Frank S. | November 23, 2025

    Trip: Special Midweek 5hr Big Game Trip

  • ★★★★★
    We had a wonderful fishing trip with Bryan. He was very knowledgeable and helped us immensely since we had little to no experience offshore fishing. We could feel that he cared about us catching a fish and that he was trying to fulfill. In the end, we caught 3 fish - 2 rainbow runners and 1 mutton snapper and lost 3 fish. We are super happy.

    David T. | November 14, 2025

    Trip: Special Midweek 5hr Big Game Trip

  • ★★★★★
    We highly recommend using Capt. Will! Unfortunately the fish weren’t biting much, but Capt. Will and his First Mate made it a fun trip nonetheless. Great boat, plenty of room, bathroom, A/C, etc. We would definitely rebook with them!

    Robert G. | November 12, 2025

    Trip: Fort Lauderdale Offshore

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip got on some great spots with good fish

    Trevor B. | October 16, 2025

    Trip: 5 Hour Bottom Fishing & Trolling

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Alek was awesome. He took us to great spots and we caught a ton of fish. Very knowledgeable and friendly. When we came back he prepped all of our fish for us so we could have feast later than night. Great experience!

    Brian S. | August 25, 2025

    Trip: Miami Sport Fishing 🎣

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