Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Also known as Mako shark, Blue pointer, Bonito shark, Pacific mako shark
Culinary Profile
Sweet with a full-bodied, meaty taste.
Soft when raw, firm once cooked.
High in protein and low in fat, and a good source of niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorous, and selenium. More information on health and seafood.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Shortfin mako sharks have pointed snouts and long gill slits. They have dark blue-gray backs, light metallic blue sides, and white undersides. Their teeth are conical and pointy and protrude forward from the jaw, making them visible even when their mouth is closed. They can be easily confused with the longfin mako shark ( Isurus paucus ).
Biology
Shortfin mako sharks grow slowly and can grow up to 12 feet, although average size is 6 to 7 feet. They have a long lifespan, and can live up to 30 years. They do not reproduce until late in life, when males are about 8 years old and females are around 20 years old. They have a 3-year reproductive cycle, including a 15 to 18-month gestation period. Eggs are fertilized internally, and develop inside the mother.
Where They Live
Range In the eastern Pacific, they’re found from the Columbia River to Chile. Off the West Coast, they’re most common off California. In the Indo-Pacific, they are found from East Africa and the Red Sea to Hawaii. Habitat Shortfin mako sharks live near the surface in tropical and temperate oceans. Juveniles are common in coastal waters, and adults are primarily found offshore.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh from August to January.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from California and Hawaii.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2023, commercial landings of Pacific shortfin mako totaled 28,000 pounds and were valued at $30,000 according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most shortfin mako harvested come from the Atlantic and Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico). Gear types and bycatch: Harvested with drift gillnets off the West Coast and occasionally caught incidentally in longline fisheries for swordfish off Hawaii. Drift gillnets can incidentally catch other species, such as ocean sunfish and blue sharks. Protected species, such as sperm whales and sea turtles, may be caught as bycatch in drift gillnet fisheries. Managers limit where and when drift gillnet fishermen can fish to help prevent bycatch. Logbooks and observer programs help monitor bycatch.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Protein | 20.98 g | 13 / 111 | 88% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 316 mg | 17 / 104 | 84% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 527 mg | 21 / 104 | 80% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Iron | 0.84 mg | 32 / 111 | 71% |
| Vitamin D | 0.6 IU | 45 / 54 | 17% |
| Phosphorus | 210 mg | 48 / 111 | 57% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.49 µg | 56 / 106 | 47% |
| Zinc | 0.43 mg | 71 / 111 | 36% |
Other Pacific Islands Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark.
North Pacific Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Moist, flavorful, and slightly sweet.
Pacific Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Mild, rich taste.
Pacific Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfinand is preferred by sashimi lovers.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi.
Pacific Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Pacific Mahimahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahimahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away the darker portions of the meat.
Pacific Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Pacific Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Lean and mild.
Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Similar by Flavour: Other Sweet-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the sweet flavour profile of Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Snow Crab
Chionoecetes opilio
Sweet.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Seasonal Alternatives · January–December
When fresh Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark is at its peak, these species are also in season — menu-planning options with overlapping windows.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Fresh from January to April and June to October. Frozen year-round.
Atlantic Pollock
Pollachius virens
Year-round. Peak landings are from November through January.
Red King Crab
Paralithodes camtschaticus
Year-round, but generally harvested from October to January.
Vermilion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
Year-round, with peaks from August through November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark a lean fish or a rich one?
At 130 kcal per 100 g raw, Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark counts as moderate on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How deep does Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark live?
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark inhabits depths of 6 to 7 feet. Range In the eastern Pacific, they’re found from the Columbia River to Chile. Off the West Coast, they’re most common off California. In the Indo-Pacific, they are found from East Africa and the Red Sea to Hawaii.
What else is Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark called?
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark is also marketed as Mako shark, Blue pointer, Bonito shark, Pacific mako shark.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific shortfin mako shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2024 stock assessment, North Pacific shortfin mako shark is not overfished and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Gear used to catch shortfin mako does not contact the ocean floor, so there is no impact to habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Pacific shortfin mako shark fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Permits are required to fish for highly migratory species, including shortfin mako sharks, and fishermen must maintain logbooks documenting their catch.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.