Damn Good Skipjack Tuna Fishing Charters

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Skipjack Tuna Fishing Charters

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Freeport

50-Miler Trip

89% (9)
33 ft 1 - 12 People From $1,650
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Loreto

Baja California Full Day

100% (1)
25 ft 1 - 4 People From $270
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 Mixed Bag Trip

100% (10)
43 ft 1 - 6 People From $950
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Lantana

Big Boat Mixed Bag

80% (5)
52 ft 1 - 10 People From $1,200
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 Key West

Dawn To Dusk Key West Fishing Trip

100% (10)
43 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,000
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 Corpus Christi

Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

100% (1)
45 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,400
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Everything to Know About Booking a skipjack tuna fishing charter

What are the best skipjack tuna fishing charters?

Why should I book a skipjack tuna fishing charter with Captain Experiences?

Our Damn Good Guides currently offer 60 skipjack tuna trips, and the most popular trips are Key Largo Offshore guided by , Offshore Jigging / Trolling guided by , and Bay Fishing Puerto Vallarta guided by .

Our guides are rated a 4.63 out of 5 based on 4105 verified reviews on Captain Experiences.

All guides on Captain Experiences are vetted by our team. You can access their reviews, click through trip photos, read bios to get to know them, and preview trip details like species, techniques, group sizes, boat specs and more.

Looking for kid friendly skipjack tuna guides / fishing lessons? Check out our beginner and family friendly skipjack tuna guides.

What types of skipjack tuna fishing charters are common?

Deep Sea fishing is the most popular type of fishing for skipjack tuna as well as nearshore fishing, inshore fishing, and flats fishing.

The most common fishing techniques are trolling, bottom fishing, and heavy tackle fishing but artificial lure fishing and live bait fishing are popular as well.

How much do skipjack tuna fishing charters cost?

Prices for skipjack tuna can range anywhere from about $850 to $3,200, but the average price for a half day trip for skipjack tuna is $1,380. The average price for a full day trip for skipjack tuna is $2,011.

Is booking a fishing guide worth the money?

Hiring a guide provides a number of benefits and many choose to book a fishing guide for a combination of experience, local knowledge, convenience, and cost-effectiveness.

Working with experienced fishing guides who know the best local spots and techniques can dramatically increase your odds of a great day. Having someone who is on the water every day and knows the area like the back of their hand is going to give you the best chances of success.

Booking a guide is also more cost effective, especially if you only get out a handful of times per year. When you consider all of the costs you would incur on your own such as the price of a boat, maintenance, insurance, gas, high-quality gear and tackle, repairs, and more, you’ll find that DIY is sometimes not worth the expense.

Even if you’ve got a great setup already in your home waters, booking a guide also provides a great opportunity to experience new techniques, new locations, or even a chance at a new target species to knock off the bucket list.

What month is best for skipjack tuna fishing?

The most popular season for skipjack tuna fishing is spring, and most anglers book their trips 11 days in advance.

Do I need a fishing license for skipjack tuna and what are the bag limits for skipjack tuna?

See here for more information on skipjack tuna fishing licenses, skipjack tuna bag limits, and fishing season regulations for skipjack tuna. When in doubt, your fishing guide will always know the right skipjack tuna rules and regulations.

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

  • ★★★★★
    My wife and I had a wonderful day of fishing with Capt.Chris. The bite was a little slow but Chris never gave up on finding fish and it turned into a good day of catching! Made for a great day on the water.

    John G. | March 12, 2025

    Trip: Half day (4hr)

  • ★★★★★
    Thank you! Fun trip they worked hard to find the fish... success!

    Shane H. | March 9, 2025

    Trip: Half day

  • ★★★★★
    This was the best deep sea trip I’ve been on. And I’ve been on a lot. These guides knew their stuff and legitimately wanted us to catch fish. Such a hard working knowledgeable crew and it paid off. We came home with every fish I could imagine.

    Josh K. | February 20, 2025

    Trip: Epic 32ft Sportfishing

  • ★★★★★
    Alek is fantastic! He works hard to find fish and is very knowledgeable about the region and fishery. Ask him questions. You wont be disappointed. Great day on the water!

    Bradley F. | February 15, 2025

    Trip: Miami sport fishing 🎣

  • ★★★★★
    Wow, what an amazing beautiful day! The Boat was very, very nice! The captain and crew were amazing so very helpful so fast and efficient!! We recommend for anyone that wants to catch some fish and have a great time too book this trip. Getting ready to eat our tuna for dinner tonight and for the rest of the two weeks that we’re here! Thank you, The Buntings 😎😁

    Bryan B. | February 3, 2025

    Trip: Full Day Off Shore Deep Sea Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great trip with Brad. He was prompt and polite, but most importantly, a very attentive and experienced captain. He gave us many options for our outing and let us determine the course of our day. Highly recommend!

    Curtis C. | January 10, 2025

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Brad and his first mate were first class. Helped us fish for all different kinds of fish. We even caught a 6 foot sailfish! Our family had a very nice time and highly recommend Captain Brad!

    Michael V. | December 25, 2024

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Awesome trip. Captain Bill was a complete professional and put us right on the fish. Everyone left happy with plenty of pictures and a full cooler. First mate Ashley was one of the best I've ever seen at what she does.

    Tommy O. | September 30, 2024

    Trip: Big Boat Mixed Bag

  • ★★★★★
    We had an amazing time! We had a special interest in Mahi and captain brad and his first mate made it happen. It was great, they made us feel super comfortable and confident. We were able to score Mackerel, Yellowtail and we latched on 3 Mahi’s at the very very last second! Super lucky. Brad and his first mate made it happen! We were able to leave with 2 mackerels and 2 Mahi Mahi’s! Thank you! You won’t regret booking with them. Special experience.

    María A. | September 2, 2024

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Brad and his first mate were amazing. It was my first time fishing off of a boat and I'm glad it was with them! They were both very patient, helpful, and made it an unforgettable experience. We caught snapper and grouper and even hooked an eel! Thanks to both of you for a fantastic time on the water. Highly recommend

    Karen E. | August 19, 2024

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Good job!

    Matt T. | August 4, 2024

    Trip: Offshore Jigging / Trolling

  • ★★★★★
    Excellent trip, everyone had a good time. Limited out on snapper. Will use him again and refer him to others.

    Brian H. | August 2, 2024

    Trip: Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Chase got us our snapper limit in a 4 hour trip. We had to go directly through a pretty good storm (still pretty cool) but came out of it and started catching fish immediately. Great guy, knows his stuff. Definitely recommend by my two teens and their two best friends, my wife and I !!!

    David W. | July 31, 2024

    Trip: Offshore Jigging / Trolling

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great time! They catered to all the fishing levels and interest! As one of my bridesmaid’s said… what a perfect activity we fished, we chilled on the boat, we talked, drank, napped, and sunned at our own liking.

    Madison T. | July 30, 2024

    Trip: Full Day Islamorada Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Brad and his deck hand Dennis was awesome given the weather and seas where not very good they still put us on fish and took care of us perfectly. Boat was very nice clean had lots of room (perfect set up) . Would highly recommended Captain Brad !!!!

    Johnny E. | June 23, 2024

    Trip: Key West Mixed Bag Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Good time!

    Zachery D. | June 12, 2024

    Trip: Offshore Jigging / Trolling

  • ★★★★★
    Beautiful boat and super nice crew

    Eric P. | May 11, 2024

    Trip: VIP Luxury - Offshore Deep Sea

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Ralph was a blast, definitely recommend and would go again!

    Zachary M. | May 6, 2024

    Trip: Full Day Off Shore Deep Sea Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Frank maintained contact up to the day of the Charter. Arrived on time and well prepared. He was knowledgeable of the area and was a great experience. We caught tuna, wahoo, barracuda, red hind grouper, yellow jack, and trumpet fish. Definitely recommend Frank.

    Stephen S. | April 9, 2024

    Trip: Epic Sportfishing - Rincon, PR

  • ★★★★★
    I have been fishing the keys for 10 years but learned a ton fishing with Captain Troy and first mate James. We caught a 2 man limit of nice sized yellow tail in 1.5 h. Very friendly folks made for a great day ! Highly recommend!

    Thomas J. | March 20, 2024

    Trip: Morning Half

What's biting?

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