Skipjack Tuna
Skipjack tuna are the most abundant tuna in Australian waters and the backbone of the country's canned tuna industry. Found around all states and territories except the Gulf of Carpentaria, they turn up inshore and offshore in large, fast-moving schools.
Rec anglers target them on light tackle for their speed and as live bait for marlin and larger pelagics.
Scientific Name: Katsuwonus pelamis
Also known as Striped tuna, oceanic bonito, stripey, stripy, watermelon, aku, bonito
- Dark metallic blue to purple back, silvery sides and belly — the colour contrast is sharp and easy to spot in the water.
- Four to six dark, wavy broken stripes run along the lower sides and belly — the key ID feature that separates skipjack from similar-sized tunas.
- Body is scaleless except for a band of thick scales behind the head (the corselet) and along the lateral line.
- Common fish run 2–4 kg; anything over 8–10 kg is rare in Australian recreational catches, with the species reaching 35 kg at its absolute maximum.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Australian waters; recorded around all states and territories, with the notable exception of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
- A pelagic, open-water species that schools near the surface but can dive to 260 m — juveniles stay shallow, larger fish range deeper.
- Strongly associated with tropical and warm-temperate offshore waters; the Eastern and Western Skipjack Tuna Fisheries both operate in Australian Commonwealth waters.
- Schools frequently form around floating objects, current lines, and in association with yellowfin tuna, sharks, or whales.
Key Locations
- Offshore waters along the east coast, from Queensland south to NSW — warm East Australian Current eddies concentrate schools seasonally.
- North-west Australian shelf and tropical northern waters, where skipjack are present year-round in warmer conditions.
- South-east Australian shelf waters during summer and early autumn, when subtropical surface temperatures rise enough to draw schools south.
Specific Spots
- Current lines and temperature breaks offshore — skipjack stack where warm and cooler water masses meet, concentrating baitfish.
- Floating debris, FADs (fish aggregating devices), and weed lines attract schools; work the edges and down-current side of any floating object.
- Surface feeding frenzies with diving birds are the most reliable visual cue — get ahead of the school and intercept rather than chasing from behind.
- Inshore reefs and headlands can hold fish when schools push close to the coast, particularly in warmer months.
Skipjack Tuna FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Skipjack Tuna?
Small skirted trolling lures (5–10 cm) in blue/white or pink/white run behind the boat at 7–10 knots and account for a large share of recreational skipjack catches.
When is the best time to fish for Skipjack Tuna?
Summer and autumn (December–April), schools move into subtropical southern waters as surface temperatures peak; most consistent recreational fishing along the east and south-east coasts. Year-round in tropical northern waters (Queensland, Northern Territory, north-west WA) where water temperatures stay within range.
How do you catch Skipjack Tuna?
Most recreational anglers encounter skipjack while trolling small lures offshore for other pelagics, or by spotting surface feeding schools and casting metal slugs or small jigs into the melee.
What do Skipjack Tuna eat?
Skipjack eat smaller fish, crustaceans, and squid, match the bait with small metal slugs, skirted trolling lures, or soft plastics in baitfish profiles when fish are feeding on the surface.
Where do Skipjack Tuna live?
Native to Australian waters; recorded around all states and territories, with the notable exception of the Gulf of Carpentaria. A pelagic, open-water species that schools near the surface but can dive to 260 m, juveniles stay shallow, larger fish range deeper.
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