longfin mako
Isurus paucus
Pelagic open-ocean shark, from the western Atlantic to southern Brazil, endangered. It turns up in commercial fishing and can be dangerous.
Also called: tubarão-mako-de-nadadeira-longa, mako aletón, marrajo carite, longfin mako
- maximum
- 427 cm
- depth
- 0–1,752 m
who is the longfin mako
The longfin mako is a pelagic shark of the family Lamnidae, with a fusiform body and long pectoral fins. It reaches 427 cm, and its common size is 200 cm. It lives at the surface, in open ocean, and probably approaches the coast to give birth. It presumably feeds on schooling fish and pelagic cephalopods. It is ovoviviparous, with 2 to 8 pups per litter, born at 97 to 120 cm. It is potentially dangerous because of its size and large teeth. In Brazil there are records in the south.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the longfin mako; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Fusiform body, dark blue above and white below, with dark markings on the underside of the snout and around the mouth. The caudal fin is crescent-shaped, with a very long lower lobe. The pectorals are broad and almost as long as the head, or longer, and the snout is not very pointed. This sets it apart from the shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), which has a sharper snout and shorter pectorals.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Western Atlantic, from Florida and Cuba to southern Brazil, with records also in Chile and Nicaragua.
Habitat: Open ocean, in the surface layer of the water, usually far from the coast.
coast
rules for the longfin mako
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Large, potentially dangerous shark: do not get close to the mouth, cut the line if needed, and release it with minimal handling.
in the kitchen
Eaten fresh, frozen, dried or salted; the flesh is of lower quality, and the fins and jaws are highly valued.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00933, b = 3.04; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Isurus paucus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Isurus paucusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
