Shortfin Mako
Shortfin makos move through Chilean Pacific waters as part of their wide oceanic range, turning up regularly as bycatch in the swordfish longline fleet operating off Chile's coast.
They're a recognized gamefish globally, and Chilean anglers targeting pelagic species offshore do encounter them.
The species has been studied specifically in Chilean waters, with age and growth research conducted on specimens from the Chilean swordfish fishery.
Scientific Name: Isurus oxyrinchus
Also known as marrajo, mako
- Dark metallic blue-gray on the back, fading to light metallic blue on the sides, with a clean white underside — the color break along the flank is sharp and distinctive.
- Pointed snout, long gill slits, and conical teeth that protrude forward and stay visible even with the mouth closed — key ID features that separate it from most other large sharks.
- Can be confused with the longfin mako (Isurus paucus); the shortfin has shorter pectoral fins and a more pronounced color contrast.
- Average size runs 1.5–1.7 m; mature individuals can reach 4 m. Litter sizes range from 4 to 16 pups, born at roughly 60–70 cm.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Chilean waters — part of a worldwide distribution spanning temperate to tropical seas. The South Pacific off Chile falls within its natural range.
- Primarily an open-ocean, surface-oriented shark, typically found from the surface down to around 150 m, though it can go deeper.
- Caught by Chilean swordfish longline fleets operating in the southeastern Pacific, which is where most documented Chilean encounters occur.
- Occasionally comes closer inshore but is fundamentally a pelagic species — it lives in the water column, not near the bottom.
Key Locations
- The southeastern Pacific off Chile's coast — the operating area of the Chilean swordfish longline fleet, where makos are regularly encountered.
- Offshore pelagic waters along Chile's long Pacific coastline.
Specific Spots
- Open blue water offshore is the primary zone — makos follow concentrations of squid and fast pelagic fish like tuna and swordfish, so work the same temperature breaks and current edges those species use.
- Surface and near-surface water (top 50 m) is where they feed most actively; they're often seen breaching when chasing prey.
- Temperature breaks and upwelling edges concentrate baitfish and squid, which in turn draw makos — these are the same features swordfish anglers already target off Chile.
Shortfin Mako FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Shortfin Mako?
Whole natural baits, rigged squid, mackerel, bonito, or other oily fish, are the backbone of mako fishing. Fished on a slow drift with a chum slick, they're the most reliable approach in open water.
How do you catch Shortfin Mako?
Most mako encounters in Chile happen offshore, in the same blue water where swordfish and tuna are targeted. Anglers drift with a chum slick and fish whole natural baits near the surface. The species is also taken incidentally on swordfish longlines.
What do Shortfin Mako eat?
Primary prey includes squid, fast pelagic fish (tuna, mackerel, sardines, saury), and other sharks. Larger individuals also take billfish and occasionally small marine mammals. For anglers, large whole or chunk natural baits, squid, mackerel, bonito, are the standard approach, fished near the surface on a slow drift.
Where do Shortfin Mako live?
Native to Chilean waters, part of a worldwide distribution spanning temperate to tropical seas. The South Pacific off Chile falls within its natural range. Primarily an open-ocean, surface-oriented shark, typically found from the surface down to around 150 m, though it can go deeper.
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