Ken Schultz's Field Guide to Saltwater Fish - Macaw Pets store

A member of the Scombridae family of mackerel, bonito,
and tuna, the black skipjack is commonly caught by anglers,
usually while trolling or casting for other pelagic species. It
is often used as a bait for big-game fish. Its food value has
mixed ratings, although it is of some commercial importance.
Its flesh is dark red and the taste is strong.
Identification. The dorsal fin of the black skipjack has 13
to 15 spines and is high anteriorly. This distinguishes it from
the bonito (Sarda), which has a relatively long and low first
dorsal fin. The anal fin, which has 11 to 13 rays, is similar to
the second dorsal fin in size and shape. The body lacks
scales, except on the anterior corselet and along the lateral
line. This is the only species of Euthynnus with 37, instead of
the usual 39, vertebrae. Each jaw has 20 to 40 small, conical
teeth. Bonito have fewer and larger conical teeth. Mackerel
have flat, triangular teeth.
The black skipjack is distinguished from similar species by
the four or five broad, straight, black stripes that run horizontally
along the back and by its dark spots between the
pectoral and the ventral fins. In live specimens, stripes may
be visible on the venter, as well as on the back, which has
frequently led to confusion with the skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus
pelamis). The stripes on the belly rarely persist long
after death in the black skipjack, however, whereas they
remain prominent in the skipjack tuna.
Size. Black skipjack are reported to attain a maximum
length of 33 inches and a weight of 20 pounds, although
they are usually encountered weighing several pounds. The
all-tackle world record is a 26-pound specimen.
Food. Black skipjack feed predominantly on small surface
fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Skipjack, Black
Euthynnus lineatus
OTHER NAMES
little tuna, false albacore,
spotted tuna, mackerel
tuna, skipjack; Spanish:
barrilete negro, bonito
negro, pataseca.
Distribution. This species
occurs in tropical and warm
temperate waters of the
eastern Pacific Ocean from
California to northern Peru,
including the Galápagos
Islands, and rarely the central
Pacific.
Habitat. Like other pelagic
and migratory species, the
black skipjack occurs in
schools near the surface of
coastal and offshore waters.
It sometimes forms multispecies
schools with other
scombrids.
Skipjack, Black 215