Skip to main content

Blue Shark

Blue Shark

Blue sharks are the UK's most accessible large shark, drawing boat anglers offshore from Cornwall to Pembrokeshire every summer.

Following the Gulf Stream clockwise across the North Atlantic, they arrive in southwest England from May and build through summer into a genuine offshore fishery. Sizes run from 20 lb schoolies to fish well over 200 lb, and virtually all are returned alive.

Scientific Name: Prionace glauca

Also known as Blue dog, blue whaler, great blue shark

Physical Characteristics:
  • Unmistakable deep metallic blue on the back fading to bright white underneath — countershading that makes them hard to spot from above or below.
  • Slim, elongated body with a long conical snout, large eyes, and distinctively long, paddle-like pectoral fins that set them apart from porbeagle or thresher.
  • Most UK fish run 40–80 lb; anything over 100 lb is a notable catch. The UK rod-caught record stands at 218 lb, and fish over 200 lb have been reliably reported in recent seasons.
  • Females grow larger than males. The largest blue shark recorded in UK waters measured 2.74 m (just under 9 ft).

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • A seasonal visitor, not a resident — blue sharks follow the Gulf Stream into UK waters each summer, then return south via the North Equatorial Current.
  • Concentrated off southwest England (Cornwall and Devon) and the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales; occasional records off west Scotland during summer months.
  • Strictly an offshore, open-water species. Most fishing takes place 10 or more miles from land in deeper water over the Celtic Sea.
  • Pelagic by nature — they cruise from the surface down to considerable depth, but UK sport fishing targets them in the upper water column.

Key Locations

  • Cornwall (Penzance, Falmouth, Looe) — the heartland of UK blue shark fishing since the 1950s, with the longest-running sport fishery record.
  • Devon (Plymouth) — active charter fleet running offshore blue shark trips into the Celtic Sea through summer.
  • Pembrokeshire, west Wales — blues arrive slightly later than the southwest but fish well from mid-June through October, with good numbers reported off the Pembrokeshire coast.
  • West Scotland — occasional summer visitor to offshore waters on the west coast, though records are sparse compared to the southwest.

Specific Spots

  • Work well offshore of headlands and tide races where baitfish and squid concentrate — the chum slick does the work of drawing sharks up from depth.
  • Drift fishing in open water rather than anchoring; blues follow the slick upcurrent, so position the boat to let the scent trail work downwind and downtide.
  • Baits fished at varying depths under floats — typically one shallow, one mid-water, one deeper — cover the water column until you find where fish are holding on the day.

Blue Shark FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Blue Shark?

Whole fresh mackerel or mackerel flapper is the go-to bait, the flapper presentation (backbone removed, body opened out) releases maximum scent and moves naturally in the current. Whole squid, either alone or combined with mackerel on the same hook, works well and stays on the hook reliably during a long drift.

When is the best time to fish for Blue Shark?

First fish typically show off Cornwall and Devon from May as surface temperatures begin to rise. Peak season runs June through October across southwest England and west Wales, with numbers and average size generally highest in July–September.

How do you catch Blue Shark?

Blue shark fishing in the UK is almost exclusively done from charter boats drifting offshore, typically 10 or more miles out. The method revolves around a continuous chum slick to draw fish to the boat, with baited rigs suspended under floats at different depths. Shore fishing for blues is not a realistic prospect.

What do Blue Shark eat?

Squid and small fish make up the bulk of their diet in UK waters. Whole mackerel, mackerel flapper (a bait with the backbone removed to release more scent), and squid are the standard boat baits, they match what blues are already hunting.

Where do Blue Shark live?

A seasonal visitor, not a resident, blue sharks follow the Gulf Stream into UK waters each summer, then return south via the North Equatorial Current. Concentrated off southwest England (Cornwall and Devon) and the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales; occasional records off west Scotland during summer months.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Blue Shark.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Blue Shark water

    Pick Blue Shark and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Blue Shark

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Blue Shark are.

Open the map, filter by Blue Shark, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.