Skipjack tuna important prey species for sharks and large pelagic fishes and is often used as live bait when fishing for Marlin. It has no scales, except on the lateral line and the corselet (a band of large, thick scales forming a circle around the body behind the head). It commonly reaches fork lengths up to and a weight of . Its maximum fork length is and maximum weight is . Ageing skipjack tuna is difficult, and the estimates of its potential lifespan range between 8 and 12 years. Skipjack tuna is a batch spawner. Spawning occurs year-round in equatorial waters, but
Helen Virginia (Skipjack boat) yards out and started crying." "When we crossed the finish line we were hugging and crying," said April Benton. Captain Ennerfelt donated the $1,000 prize back to the race sponsor, the Deal Island-Chance Lions Club. "Helen Virginia" has continued to race in skipjack events, including the 18th Annual Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race in Cambridge, MD in 2014, placing fourth. She also represented the skipjacks of the Chesapeake Bay at the 2014 Annapolis Boat Show. She will be working dredging oysters off Deal Island during oyster harveting season, and will resume racing in the off-season. Helen Virginia (Skipjack boat) The Helen