Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Also called Skippy, Oceanic bonito.
How to tell it
Dark horizontal stripes on the BELLY — not the back; stout purple-backed football.
- Not a false albacore? That one wavy marks on the back, spots under the pectoral. (False Albacore)
- Not a atlantic bonito? That one stripes on the back, slimmer. (Atlantic Bonito)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| ConnecticutFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| DelawareFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic)Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf)Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| GeorgiaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| LouisianaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| MarylandFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| MassachusettsFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| MississippiFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| New JerseyFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| New YorkFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| Rhode IslandFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| South CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| TexasFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| VirginiaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32 lb 6.4 oz | 2013 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 33.5 lb | 1998 · Islamorada | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Louisiana | 31.19 lb | 2007 · Green Canyon Blks. | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 29 lb 11 oz | 2013 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 13 lb 4 oz | 1999 · Wilmington Canyon | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 32 lb 5 oz | 2016 · Gulf Stream off Hatteras | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| South Carolina | 28 lb 0.8 oz | 2020 · Sullivan’s Island | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 28.25 lb | 1981 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 22 lb 11 oz | 1995 · The Cigar | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Strong and dark — bleed it, grill it fresh, or smoke it.
In the app
Point the camera at a skipjack tuna and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about skipjack tuna
How do you tell skipjack tuna from false albacore?
Skipjack Tuna has this: Dark horizontal stripes on the BELLY — not the back; stout purple-backed football.. False Albacore wavy marks on the back, spots under the pectoral.
What is the record skipjack tuna?
33.5 lb in Florida (1998), Islamorada. Other states’ records are in the table.