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
HMS Skipjack (1889) 26 June 1897 "Skipjack" was present at the Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead, In 1898 "Skipjack" was sent to Palmers of Jarrow for refit. "Skipjack" had her locomotive boilers replaced by Reed water-tube boilers in early 1900, which increased power and reliability. "Skipjack"s new machinery delivered over giving a speed of . "Skipjack" took part in the Royal Navy's annual manoeuvres in July–August 1900, and again in 1901. In January 1901 she was a tender to the cruiser in Kingstown. In 1905 "Skipjack" was in reserve, but after refit, she returned to active service as part of the Fishery Protection