The Fishing Report
Fishing seasons & conditions by region
Shark (mako/thresher) Isurus oxyrinchus
Shark (mako/thresher) Size, Range & Diet
| Typical size | 5–9 ft, 60–300 lb across both species |
|---|---|
| Maximum | mako up to 13 ft and about 1,100 lb; thresher up to 20 ft and about 765 lb |
| Lifespan | roughly 20–50 years |
| Range | This entry covers two species — shortfin mako and common thresher — both roaming temperate seas worldwide, including the US Atlantic from New England and the Mid-Atlantic canyons south to Florida and the Gulf, and the Pacific coast off California. |
| Habitat | Blue water along the shelf edge, canyon rims and temperature breaks from the surface down a few hundred feet, though threshers often work much closer to the beach. |
| Diet | Bluefish, mackerel, herring, menhaden and squid; threshers stun schooling bait with the long upper tail. |
Sizes are typical rod-and-reel and documented maximum figures, not size limits — see the regulations links below for the rules where you fish.
How to Identify a Shark (mako/thresher)
- mako: deep indigo-blue back, sharply pointed snout, long curved dagger-like teeth visible even when mouth is closed
- mako: nearly symmetrical crescent (lunate) tail with a strong caudal keel
- thresher: enormously long, scythe-like upper tail lobe, nearly as long as the body
- thresher: small mouth, short snout, smooth gray-brown back, small teeth
- both have 5 gill slits and a stout, fast torpedo-shaped body
Tell it apart: A tail lobe nearly as long as the body = thresher; a stocky blue body with exposed needle-like teeth and an even crescent tail = mako.
How to Catch Shark (mako/thresher)
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- Best July-September - set a steady chum slick offshore and drift oily mackerel or bluefish baits on cable leaders at staggered depths.GearHeavy circle hooksCable leader rigsStand-up shark combo
When & Where Shark (mako/thresher) Are in Season
Peak Good Fair Slow
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Offshore |
Shark (mako/thresher) Regulations
New YorkNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Division of Marine ResourcesConnecticutConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Marine FisheriesRhode IslandRhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Division of Marine FisheriesMassachusettsMassachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF), Department of Fish and Game / Mass.govNew HampshireNew Hampshire Fish and Game Department (Marine Fisheries Division)MaineMaine Department of Marine Resources (DMR)NOAA Fisheries (Greater Atlantic Region / New England-Mid-Atlantic)NEFMCAtlantic States Marine Fisheries CommissionASMFC
Always check local regulations — seasons, size, and bag limits vary by state and species, and change year to year. When in doubt, release.