Shortfin Mako Shark(Isurus oxyrinchus)

Quick Facts

  • Other Names: Mako, Bue pointer
  • Size Range: Can grow to 12 feet and 1400 pounds
  • Native Species?: Yes
  • Food Value: The edibility of the mako is excellent. A meaty fish and highly prized.

State Record

  • Louisiana State Record: 1149.5lbs
  • State Record Date: 2/1/2009
  • State Record Holder Bill Walters

The mako is a pelagic shark, often found at the surface in offshore waters. They have a sharply pointed nose and a mouth full of long, curved teeth. They have a dark bluish back and white undersides. An awesome predator, the mako will attack prey much larger than itself. They are a highly prized catch for sportfishermen in many areas.

The mako is found in temperate and tropical climates throughout the world in blue, clear offshore waters.

Most shark fishing is done with live and dead bait, but many mako sharks have been caught trolling lures and baits. Mako sharks have a habit of jumping when hooked—this is a big part of the thrill of catching them. Chumming with fishy-smelling material can attract mako sharks as well as most other species. The shortfin is the only species of mako shark that can be kept, as the longfin mako is protected.

Shortfin Mako Shark Rules and Regulations

Size Limit : Minimum size of 54"
Bag and Possession Limit : 1 per vessel
Seasons : Finfish
Special Rules : Closed Season: All Louisiana state waters out to the seaward boundary of the Louisiana Territorial Sea shall be closed to the recreational and commercial harvest and possession of all sharks between April 1 and June 30 of each year.

Sharks Click to Toggle

CLOSED SEASON

All Louisiana state waters seaward to the gulfward boundary of the Louisiana Territorial Sea shall be closed to the recreational and commercial harvest and possession of all sharks between April 1 and June 30 of each year.

Small Coastal Sharks

  • Atlantic sharpnose shark; bonnethead shark; blacknose shark; finetooth shark

Large Coastal Sharks

  • Blacktip shark; nurse shark; smooth hammerhead; bull shark; sandbar shark*; spinner shark; great hammerhead; scalloped hammerhead; tiger shark; lemon shark; silky shark*

*NOTE: Recreational harvest of sandbar and silky sharks (ridgeback sharks) is not allowed.

Pelagic Sharks

  • Blue shark; porbeagle shark; thresher shark; oceanic whitetip shark; shortfin mako NOTE: A person subject to a bag limit shall not possess at any time, regardless of the number of trips or the duration of a trip, any shark in excess of the bag limits. The practice of “finning,” that is, removing only the fins and returning the remainder of the shark to the sea, is prohibited within and without Louisiana waters. Notwithstanding other provisions of this part, a person may fish for, but not retain, white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) with rod and reel only under a catch and- release program, provided the person releases and returns such fish to the sea immediately with a minimum of injury.

Prohibited Sharks

  • The following is a list of shark species that are prohibited:
    • Atlantic angel shark, sand tiger shark, dusky shark, bigeye sand tiger shark, sixgill shark, largetooth sawfish, bigeye thresher shark, smalltooth sawfish, narrowtooth shark, Caribbean reef shark, white shark, Caribbean sharpnose shark, basking shark, sevengill shark, Galapagos shark, bigeye sixgill shark, smalltail shark, longfin mako, bignose shark, whale shark and night shark. No sandbar or silky sharks may be retained under a recreational bag limit.

Highly Migratory Species Click to Toggle

A HMS Permit is required for all owners/ operator of vessels in the Gulf of Mexico fishing for and/or retaining the HMS regulated species of tunas, billfishes, swordfish and sharks. The Atlantic HMS Permits will be valid from the date of issuance through the end of the calendar year. The permit fee is $25.

An Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat Permit is required for all charter or headboat fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic HMS in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The HMS Charter/Headboat Permit will be valid from the date of issuance through through the end of the calendar year. The permit fee is $20.

For information about contact the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Permitting Office at 1-888-872-8862 or 727-824-5399 or visit the NMFS Permit Shop at www.hmspermits.noaa.gov. For complete HMS regulations, contact the HMS Management Division at 301-713- 2347 or visit the website at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/information.

General Info:
Related Habitats:
Other Highly Migratory Species: Bonnethead Shark Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Pompano Dolphin Blue Marlin Dolphin Dusky Shark Great Hammerhead Shark Yellowfin Tuna
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Related Fishing Methods

The use of chunks of cut bait, usually fish, to attract game fish to the boat. The hook is then placed in one of the chunks and tossed out to free-line down. Also could be considered chumming, but the size of the pieces are bigger and gives the fish something to start feeding on.

Dead bait consists of many different types of bait that is no longer alive. Dead bait is still attractive to many fish as they are normally feeding by smell and dead bait is the ticket for smell. Fresh cut fish, dead shrimp, half crab, shucked clam, cut squid and all popular examples of bait that will catch a wide variety of fish. Many sport fish that are predators, will gladly take the opportunity to slurp up a fresh dead bait. A redfish is equally happy to chase down a baitfish or slurp up a dead shrimp on the bottom. Dead bait has the benefit is being easy to obtain, maintain and transport, as opposed to live bait which takes livewells, quality water control and can be harder to obtain.

Live bait is a term given to many different types of fish, crustaceans, insects and worms that are popular food items for fish and used by fishermen for bait. There are many benefits to live bait as well as a few cons. The pros normally out weigh the negatives, and live bait is widely used. The biggest benefit for fishermen is that they are using the real thing and often puts a fish's guard down. Small fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, crickets and the good ole earthworm are all used to entice a fish to the hook. The only negatives to live bait is just that, keeping it alive. Sometimes catching it can be a challenge, as only some species can be bought as live bait. No matter how you get it, live bait is a great way to target many types of fish.

The process of slowly searching the water and spotting fish, that you then present a bait too. Takes stealth and patience, but the visual reward is awesome. It is practiced on the flats for redfish as well as coastal areas for cobia and tripletail.

Trolling is the presentation of lure and/or baits from a moving boat. Many types of predatory fish are caught this way in both fresh and salt water. Speeds and presentations vary greatly depending on the target species. One may troll a small beetle spin for crappie with trolling motor in the lake, or charge around oil rigs at 15 knots with a high-speed wahoo spread. Trolling ballyhoo offshore is one of the most common, broad spectrum ways to catch all types of gamefish. Again there are many different methods to choose from.

Related Fishing Gear

This includes a wide variety of larger lures designed to be trolled at speeds from 6 to 12 knots on average. They often consist of a hard head and rubber skirt combo that wiggles and leaves a bubble or “smoke” trail as it is pulled through the water. The hooks are normally on a separate rig that inserts into the skirt of the lure. There are many varieties and despite the name will catch all species of game fish.