AlloyToy

Hey All,

Question: Saw a sharking show tonight East vs. West on Versus. The crew on one of the boats starts screaming "Mako" " Mako".

Now, looking at the footage the shark had to have been a good 30 yards out from the port side.

How the hell can you tell at that distance if it's a mako, blue shark............or what kind of shark it is? Just wondering if I'm missing something here? I've only sharked 3-4 times so my experience is limited.

RI Popper

There is a huge difference in the shape of the back tail between a blue shark and a mako. On a Mako the top and bottom of the sharks tail is the same size and shape but on a blue shark the top of the tail extends out toward the back much more and is longer than the bottom of the tail. You can tell which one it is if the top of the tail is sticking out of the water.

Armand

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Bob & Mag

Armand, Is that balanced tail on the mako what gives it the speed? Curious as I've seen footage and they can fly. Wondered why they were so fast.

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esquired

Of course, some people scream Mako at every shark (I scream Dogfish usually )

Maybe there was a Mako boat nearby?

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74Formula233

Yes a good eye can tell the difference, both in appearance (both tail and side fins, color, eyes, snout) and in the way it is acting/swimming/etc.

But as a side note.....don't use the East vs. West "piece" (of crap) as a guide.......that was a very poor representation of serious shark fishermen unfortunately....it was produced for entertainment and shock value ONLY

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RI Popper

Well besides the balanced shape difference they have a pucked tail like a tunoid. Unlike the blue shark who's tail is more like other fish. The pucked tail is a wide just befor the base of the tail. Here is a good page that explains the differences:
http://www.newenglandsharks.com/lamnidae.htm

Armand

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Bob & Mag

Armand Thanks for the explanation and link. Great site!
Just learned there are shortfin and longfin makos.
Lots of info there.

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RI Popper

My pleasure, There is a lot of great information there.

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CaptDom

Using dorsals or caudal fins for sole criteria of identification is never a good idea. There are anomolies in many sharks with lengths of pectoral and dorsal fins, which can confuse even trained eyes.

You need to see the sharks dorsal foreward to accurately 100% identify them.....I myself have been fooled on occasion thinking we had a mid sized blue when it turned out to be a small mako that had extremely long pec fins, and vice versa. The tail alone will give you clues, but should not be used as the sole criteria. The water also distorts the look of the submeged shark, making it tough to tell. Some makos never jump, and act just like a blue on the line. Wait till you can bring it alongside before shouting what you have.

The way the shark acts, and parts that come completely out of the water are very good indicators, but to make the sure 100% call you need to see more of him than just the tail(unless its a thresher )

Blue sharks are VERY fast swimmers when they want to be by the way.

I agree that EastvsWest is horrible!!

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old mud

"But as a side note.....don't use the East vs. West "piece" (of crap) as a guide.......that was a very poor representation of serious shark fishermen unfortunately....it was produced for entertainment and shock value ONLY "
__________________I am with Eric on this one, Big difference between Discovery ch. and entertainment tv. I watch all the fishing shows when I'm around but do chuckle a lot. I guess as long as you know the difference it's ok. But unlike Brad I know little about sharks, except "there goe's another $4.00 hook and my dam floro. leader.


Don

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