Blue Shark
Blue sharks are the dominant shark species in Atlantic Canada's recreational fishery, showing up seasonally off Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They're also present along Canada's Pacific coast.
Slender, fast, and built for open-ocean travel, they're the target of dedicated shark charters and summer tournaments that have run off the Maritimes since 1994.
Scientific Name: Prionace glauca
Also known as Requin bleu, requin peau bleue, great blue shark, blue whaler, Sabbede-mequ, siglati, wipitmeqw
- Deep indigo on the back fading to bright blue on the sides and white underneath — the contrast disappears quickly once the fish is out of the water, turning uniform dark grey.
- Extremely long, narrow pectoral fins — each fin reaches roughly the same length as the distance from the snout tip to the last gill slit — and a distinctly slender body separate blues from most other sharks.
- Long pointed snout, large eyes, and triangular serrated teeth; body noticeably more elongated than a mako or porbeagle of the same length.
- Most fish encountered in Canadian waters are subadults running 1.8–2.4 m (6–8 ft); the species reaches 3.8 m (13 ft) at maximum.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A wide-ranging, open-ocean species present on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada; the two populations are considered separate because there's no documented movement between ocean basins around the continent.
- In Atlantic Canada, regularly found across the Scotian Shelf, Grand Banks, southeastern Newfoundland, Bay of Fundy, and seasonally into the Gulf of St. Lawrence as far as the Gaspé Peninsula.
- Most commonly encountered in offshore surface waters, though they range down to around 350 m; peak occurrence on both coasts runs late summer through fall.
- Canadian waters host primarily subadult (immature) individuals; adults are encountered occasionally.
Key Locations
- Nova Scotia offshore waters — the centre of the Maritimes recreational shark fishery since 1994, with annual tournaments typically held in August.
- Scotian Shelf and Grand Banks — documented as core habitat in Canadian Atlantic waters, with consistent catch records from both recreational and incidental commercial fishing.
- Gulf of St. Lawrence — blue sharks enter seasonally and have been recorded as far inland as the mouth of the Estuary off the Gaspé Peninsula.
- Southeastern Newfoundland and Bay of Fundy — both areas with documented blue shark presence; Newfoundland-based shark charters operate out of the province targeting blues.
Specific Spots
- Offshore surface and near-surface water is the primary zone — blues are pelagic and rarely come close to shore on their own, so most encounters happen well offshore over deep water.
- Chum slicks drifted from an anchored or drifting boat concentrate sharks at the surface; the scent trail does the work of pulling fish up from depth.
- Areas with dense baitfish or squid concentrations — wherever herring or mackerel are schooling offshore — hold feeding blues.
Blue Shark FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Blue Shark?
Whole or chunk mackerel and herring are the backbone of the Atlantic Canada shark fishery, fished on a float rig in a chum slick, they're the most reliable presentation on guided charters. Whole squid, either fresh or rigged on a circle hook, works well given how heavily blues rely on squid in their diet.
When is the best time to fish for Blue Shark?
Spring, blues begin arriving in Atlantic Canadian waters as water temperatures rise; fishing picks up as the season progresses. Summer (July–August), peak season for recreational shark fishing and tournaments off Nova Scotia; fish are most concentrated and accessible.
How do you catch Blue Shark?
Nearly all recreational blue shark fishing in Canada happens from boats offshore, using a drifting or anchored setup with a chum slick to draw fish to the surface.
What do Blue Shark eat?
Squid are the primary forage, and large squid-imitating baits or whole squid on a hook are a go-to offering on shark charters; soft plastic squid lures can also draw strikes.
Where do Blue Shark live?
A wide-ranging, open-ocean species present on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada; the two populations are considered separate because there's no documented movement between ocean basins around the continent.
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