UTER
Photo: Sahat Ratmuangkhwang, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Katsuwonus pelamis
How to catch Skipjack tuna
Skipjack tuna feed in 70–86°F water and bite best at 74–82°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 1 water.
30 pts · trophy at 30"Feeds 70–86°FBest 74–82°FIn season nowLedge / hard bottomWreck
About
The striped-belly tuna of the deep Gulf and the Stream, in fast schools under the birds with the blackfins, and the best marlin bait alive. Bleed it and it's good raw.
How to fish it
Troll small lures fast through the birds on the edge; when they're up, a popper across the school.
What it eats
small feathers and cedar plugslive pilchardspoppers
Live bait for it
Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
Flying fishRigged whole on a trolling rig for tuna and marlin, or a strip on a skirted lure.What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
Hook4/0–8/0
Braid50–100 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereBag limit applies — confirm at MyFWC.
The current rule →Where it is, month by month
PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving
Alaska & Hawaii