Pacific Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Also known as Ocean bonito, Lesser tuna, Aku, Katsuo
Culinary Profile
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Firm and moist, with large flakes.
Skipjack is an excellent source of low-fat protein.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Skipjack tuna do not have scales except on the corselet and the lateral line. The corselet is a band of large, thick scales forming a circle around the body behind the head and extending backward along the lateral line. The lateral line is a faint line running lengthwise down each side of the fish.
Biology
Like other tropical tunas, skipjack tuna grow fast, up to nearly 4 feet and more than 70 pounds. They have a short life span compared to other temperate tunas, around 8 to 12 years. In the Pacific, skipjack are able to reproduce when they reach about 1.3 feet in length. They spawn throughout the year in tropical waters and seasonally (spring to early fall) in subtropical waters.
Where They Live
Range Skipjack tuna are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world, including the waters around the U.S. Pacific Islands and the U.S. West Coast. Habitat Skipjack tuna is a highly migratory species, swimming long distances to feed and reproduce. They are a pelagic species—they mostly live in the open ocean, although they may spend part of their life in nearshore waters.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Hawaii, California, U.S. Pacific Island territories, and the high seas.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: Most of the global harvest of Pacific skipjack tuna comes from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). U.S. fisheries typically account for less than 10 percent of harvest from the WCPO. In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific skipjack tuna totaled 245,000 pounds and were valued at $720,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database (these landings do not include skipjack tuna landed outside the U.S.). The majority of landings of non-purse seine caught skipjack tuna are in Hawaii, with some landings in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Purse seines are primarily used to catch Pacific skipjack tuna.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 111 Species
Where Pacific Skipjack Tuna ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 22 g | 10 / 111 | 91% |
| Iron | 1.25 mg | 16 / 111 | 86% |
| Zinc | 0.82 mg | 24 / 111 | 78% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Phosphorus | 222 mg | 35 / 111 | 68% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.9 µg | 46 / 106 | 57% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 185 mg | 56 / 104 | 46% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 71 mg | 70 / 104 | 33% |
Other Pacific Islands Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Skipjack Tuna.
North Pacific Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Moist, flavorful, and slightly sweet.
Pacific Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Mild, rich taste.
Pacific Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfinand is preferred by sashimi lovers.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi.
Pacific Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Pacific Mahimahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahimahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away the darker portions of the meat.
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Sweet with a full-bodied, meaty taste.
Pacific Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Lean and mild.
Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in the water column does Pacific Skipjack Tuna live?
Range Skipjack tuna are found in tropical and subtropical oceans around the world, including the waters around the U.S. Pacific Islands and the U.S. West Coast. Habitat Skipjack tuna is a highly migratory species, swimming long distances to feed and reproduce. They are a pelagic species—they mostly live in the open ocean, although they may spend part of their life in nearshore waters.
Who manages the Pacific Skipjack Tuna fishery?
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage this fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Fishermen must have a permit to harvest tuna and must keep logbooks documenting their catch. Gear restrictions are in place to minimize bycatch.
How much Pacific Skipjack Tuna is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery: Most of the global harvest of Pacific skipjack tuna comes from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). U.S. fisheries typically account for less than 10 percent of harvest from the WCPO. In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific skipjack tuna totaled 245,000 pounds and were valued at $720,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database (these landings do not include s…
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific skipjack tuna is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of skipjack tuna: the Eastern Pacific stock and the Western and Central Pacific stock. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Eastern Pacific stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2024 stock assessment). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to catch skipjack tuna rarely contacts the ocean floor so habitat impacts are minimal.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage this fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Fishermen must have a permit to harvest tuna and must keep logbooks documenting their catch. Gear restrictions are in place to minimize bycatch.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.