The snout is sharply pointed and the mouth is relatively large. The color is dark blue to purple on the back become silvery or white below, with four to six dark horizontal stripes on the belly.
Skipjack occur worldwide in warm seas.
They are found in the eastern Pacific from Peru to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Skipjack tuna spawn in waters off the eastern Pacific. Spawning takes place during the summer months. A skipjack tuna that is 18.5 inches long and weighs 5.5 pounds lays an estimated 113,000 eggs, while one that is 22.1 inches long and weighs 13.1 pounds produces 600,000 eggs. The young fish grow rapidly and when one year old are 18 inches long.