Mako Shark:  Isurus oxyrynchus
The Mako, Isurus oxyrynchus, is a large, swift, and dangerous shark, and has been clocked swimming at 20 miles an hour, the fastest speed ever recorded for a shark. Their speed and agility, especially when trying to escape from fishing lines, has made them one of the most popular sporting fish in the world, with the number of Mako tournaments second only to the number of Marlin sport tournaments. Sport fishing has accelerated so much in the last 20 years, that the species experienced a 47 percent decline from 1987 to 1997, with a much higher rate of decline in U.S. waters. Makos are very powerful sharks; they have been caught with swordfish inside their stomachs. In 1988, three sport fishermen in Australia hooked a Mako only to have it jump in the boat thrashing violently, knocking them into the water. When the rescuers arrived, the shark was dead but the boat had been sunk.

Print Number - SH025
Limited Edition signed color photography for sale by Stephen Brunson

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Mako Shark, Isurus oxyrynchus Statistics:

Weight:                  Up to 1000 Lbs.
Length:                  Up to 13 Ft.
Mating:                  Late Spring or Early Winter.
Lifespan:                Nurse sharks have been known to live up to 25 years.
Breeding habits:     Mako females gather in "nurseries" to give birth, such as Long Island Sound and the California Bight.
Number of young:   8 to 10 pups at a time
Gestation Period:   Unknown
Typical Diet:           Bluefish, Mackerel Tuna, and other pelagic species of fish, squid
Distribution:           Tropical and warm waters worldwide

Danger to Humans:

The Mako Shark is blamed for many nonfatal attacks on swimmers and boats, particularly when hooked.

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