School Shark
School shark once underpinned a major commercial fishery across southern Australia, but the stock has been severely depleted and targeting them is now banned. Recreational and commercial anglers encounter them as bycatch while fishing for gummy shark.
Their meat has long been sold as 'flake' in fish-and-chip shops, making them one of Australia's most commercially significant sharks — and one of its most at-risk.
Scientific Name: Galeorhinus galeus
Also known as Flake, tope, snapper shark, soupfin shark, eastern school shark
- Slender body with grey or brown back and upper sides fading to a white belly — classic shark profile but notably slim compared to gummy shark.
- Long, pointed snout with a translucent underside near the tip — a useful ID feature when the fish is in hand.
- Second dorsal fin noticeably smaller than the first; tail has a distinct notch near the tip of the upper lobe.
- Grows to around 1.9 m and 37 kg; females run larger than males and can live to 60 years.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to southern Australian waters — distributed along the continental shelf and slope from Houtman Abrolhos in WA around to Moreton Bay in southern Queensland, including Bass Strait and Tasmania.
- A temperate, bottom-associated species that works depths from shallow coastal bays out to 550 m on the continental slope.
- Juveniles use sheltered estuaries and bays as nursery habitat — areas like Port Phillip Bay (Victoria), Frederick Henry Bay and Georges Bay (Tasmania) are documented nursery grounds.
- Schools segregate by size and sex; larger, older fish tend to be found further offshore.
Key Locations
- Bass Strait and the Victorian coast — historically the heart of the commercial school shark fishery, now managed as sensitive habitat.
- Tasmania (Frederick Henry Bay, Georges Bay, Port Sorell) — documented nursery grounds for juveniles; Shark Refuge Areas apply.
- South Australian shelf waters — school shark are taken as bycatch in the gillnet fishery here alongside gummy shark.
- Southern Western Australia (Houtman Abrolhos and south) — the western edge of the species' Australian range.
Specific Spots
- Sandy and muddy bottom on the continental shelf — the same ground gummy shark favour, which is where most incidental encounters happen.
- Juveniles hold in sheltered estuaries and shallow bays, particularly around designated Shark Refuge Areas in Victoria and Tasmania.
- Moves up into the water column at night, so mid-water sets after dark can produce encounters even in areas where bottom fishing is the norm.
School Shark FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for School Shark?
Fresh squid and whole small fish (such as pilchards or slimy mackerel) are the standard baits used when targeting gummy shark, school shark take the same presentations. Circle hooks on a wire or heavy fluorocarbon trace reduce deep-hooking and improve survival if the fish needs to be released.
When is the best time to fish for School Shark?
Juveniles are present in sheltered inshore bays and estuaries through summer and into late autumn before moving offshore. Adults are found on the continental shelf year-round, with broader offshore movement in cooler months.
How do you catch School Shark?
Targeting school shark is not permitted in Australia. Anglers fishing for gummy shark on the southern shelf, typically drifting or anchoring over sandy bottom with fresh bait on a running sinker rig, are the most likely to encounter one as bycatch.
What do School Shark eat?
Feeds mainly on squid and small to medium pelagic fish, fresh squid or whole small fish on a running sinker rig is the standard bait when gummy shark fishing, and school shark take the same offerings.
Where do School Shark live?
Native to southern Australian waters, distributed along the continental shelf and slope from Houtman Abrolhos in WA around to Moreton Bay in southern Queensland, including Bass Strait and Tasmania. A temperate, bottom-associated species that works depths from shallow coastal bays out to 550 m on the continental slope.
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