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 Kailua-Kona

Kona Coast Big Game Fishing

100% (5) Guided by John
35 ft 1 - 6 People From $850
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

Nearshore Fishing in Orange Beach

Four Hour Trolling Trip

100% (8) Guided by Sara
39 ft 1 - 6 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Brewster

Brewster / Monomoy Flats Skiff Trip

NEW Guided by George
22 ft 1 - 2 People From $575
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea, Nearshore Fishing in Montauk

Offshore

NEW Guided by Tony
30 ft 1 - 8 People From $2,200
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

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in San José del Cabo

Super Panga 24’

92% (13) Managed by Jaime
24 ft 1 - 2 People From $290
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

Inshore, Deep Sea, Nearshore in San José del Cabo

Epic 32ft Sportfishing

92% (13) Managed by Jaime
32 ft 1 - 5 People From $600
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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

  • ★★★★★
    My teenage daughter and I had a great trip with Captain Phil today. We weren’t out there long before my daughter reeled in a snapper. In total we caught snapper, Bonito, and Blackfin Tuna. After docking Capt Phil filleted, bagged, and iced the tuna for us.

    Brian H. | July 15, 2025

    Trip: 28’ Contender center console

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Mike was a super nice guide, patient and we didn’t come in until we caught our limit! 4 red snappers and a black tip shark! Great memories made! Thanks Mike!!

    Kandee W. | July 7, 2025

    Trip: 50-Miler Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Great trip. Limited out quickly. Chase and Jake are a lethal duo. We had 4 kids with us two under the age of 8. They had the patients to help the little guys land some fish. Highly recommend.

    Nick M. | July 4, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Jigging / Trolling

  • ★★★★★
    Mike was an amazing guide. I will definitely keep using him.

    Dustin T. | June 29, 2025

    Trip: 50-Miler Trip

  • ★★★★★
    Chase & his assistant were great. They were very courteous & made our trip so much fun. Definitely 10/10!!

    Robbie E. | June 23, 2025

    Trip: Offshore Jigging / Trolling

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