Skipjack Tuna

Fact File:

Common Name(s):
Skipjack Tuna

Scientific Name:
Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Usual Size:
To 108cm which is equated to a weight of 32/34kg - common to 80cm

UK Record Weights from rod/line:

Shore:

Boat:

MAFF Minimum Size: Shore: Boat:

Identification:
Typical tunny shape. Colour: Back dark purplish blue, lower sides and belly silver. In live specimens longitudinal dark bands may appear as discontinuous lines of dark blotches. 4 or 5 long broad stripes on the belly

Breeding:
Egg dispersal. Spawning takes place in batches in equatorial waters and in sub-tropical waters from early spring to autumn, although the season shortens the further the distance from the equator. A female of between 41/87cm can disperse between 80,000 and 2,000,000 eggs per season

Habitat:
Tending to be an offshore species with occasional migrations into inshore waters also a surface schooling tuna. Preferred water temperature ranges are 15 to 30ºC, with mature fish being within the 18 to 20ºC band.

Food:
Fish, squid, crustaceans and known to be cannibalistic

Range:
In most tropical and warm temperate waters. For the UK the southern coast line in summers of high sea water temperatures.


Additional Notes:

One positively identified Skipjack Tuna was taken in an inshore net in Lyme Bay in October 1989. Often confused with another tuna species - Atlantic Bonito.

REFERENCES: FAO Species Catalogue 2 - Scombrids of The World - Collette/Nauen

Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean - Whitehead, Bauchot, Hureau, Nielsen, Tortonese

Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe - Wheeler

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