Saltwater · Warm-water months; rare where surface temperature falls below 23°C
Black Skipjack
Euthynnus lineatus
The eastern Pacific's small tuna, forming mixed schools with yellowfin and skipjack over warm coastal and offshore surface water. It is a fast, opportunistic predator and a lively light-tackle and bait-boat fish.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Iridescent blue back with 3-5 solid horizontal black stripes running from the corselet to the tail
- Variable black or dark-grey spots above the pelvic fins, between pectoral and pelvic fins
- Belly usually plain silvery, sometimes with light grey longitudinal striping
- First dorsal fin strongly concave — front spines much taller than those behind
- Body naked except for the corselet and lateral line, like other Euthynnus
Habits
- Stays in warm surface water, rarely where it falls below 23°C; larvae concentrate above 26°C
- Forms multi-species schools with yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna
- Opportunistic predator on small fish, squid and crustaceans near the surface
- Largely confined to waters within about 240 miles of the mainland coast
Distribution
Where to find them
- Surface bait schools off the Mexican and Central American Pacific coast
- Current lines, rips and temperature breaks offshore
- Around offshore islands and seamounts in warm water
Where they live
How to catch them
Trolling small lures for surface schools Boat
Rig: Light-medium trolling outfit, small feather or cedar plug on a light leader
Bait/lure: Tuna feathers, cedar plugs, small spoons
Key tip: Troll around bait balls and bird activity in warm water; black skipjack travel with yellowfin and skipjack, so stay rigged light for numbers.
Live-bait chumming surface schools Boat
Rig: Spinning outfit, small circle hook, no weight
Bait/lure: Live sardine or anchovy
Key tip: Chum sparingly to hold the school, then pitch a live bait on light line; keep the boat up-wind of the school and do not drive through it.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light-medium 7' spinning / trolling rod
- Line: 20-30 lb braid or mono
- Terminal: Small feathers and plugs, 30 lb fluorocarbon leader, small circle hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' medium-heavy surf spinning rod
≈ US$110-170
Casts plugs and bait past the breakers and handles stripers, drum and bluefish in the wash.
Reel · Best value
5000 size sealed spinning reel
≈ US$120-180
Salt spray and dunkings kill cheap reels — a sealed body and 30 lb braid capacity are the surf standard.
Terminal · Budget
Topwater plugs, soft-plastic jigs and fish-finder rigs
≈ US$25-40
Plugs for blitzes, jigs for the trough, bait on a fish-finder rig when they won't chase — the inshore trio.
Picks are never paid placements. Prices are guides; price links are coming soon and none is an affiliate link yet.
Typical size
Common about 60 cm; maximum 84 cm fork length and 9.1 kg
On the table
Eaten fresh and used as bait and in local markets; darker, stronger flesh than skipjack — many anglers use it for bait or release it.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Black Skipjack
Build today's plan⚠ Heads-up: Black Skipjack doesn't occur around Vancouver, BC (or is very rare there), so it's not a sensible local target. Your plan stays in Vancouver, BC and is built around the fish that actually live there.