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
Hilda M. Willing (skipjack) Whitelock. "Willing's" sailing qualities are among the best in the skipjack fleet. It is stated that she is the only skipjack that can come about without the use of the centerboard, and that she can dredge in strong winds without a jib. The "Willing" is long, wide and draws . She has a traditional clipper bow-shaped cutwater in a sharp, but convex bow, and a square transom. She carries a pushblock for a pushboat to allow her to dredge in light airs. The king plank runs from the bow past the mast, but stops short of the main hatch. Following