Blue Shark
Blue sharks are a genuine offshore target for southern New Zealand anglers, particularly those chasing pelagic species out of South Island ports.
Abundant in the New Zealand EEZ, they're one of the more accessible large sharks available to recreational fishers — easier to raise than mako or thresher — and give land-based anglers in the south a realistic shot at a big fish from the rocks or beach.
Scientific Name: Prionace glauca
Also known as Blue pointer, great blue shark
- Deep indigo-blue dorsally, vivid bright blue on the flanks, clean white belly — one of the most distinctively coloured sharks in New Zealand waters.
- Slim, elongated body with a long conical snout, large eyes, and notably long, narrow pectoral fins that give it a graceful, almost languid silhouette.
- Common fish run around 150–200 cm; adults regularly reach 250–300 cm. Maximum recorded length is around 380 cm.
- Tips of the pectoral and anal fins are dusky — a useful ID detail when distinguishing blues from other pelagic sharks at the surface.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Found in offshore waters throughout the New Zealand EEZ, from the surface down to at least 1,000 m — a genuinely wide-ranging pelagic species.
- Primarily oceanic, but moves closer inshore where the continental shelf narrows, which is why South Island land-based anglers encounter them from rocky headlands and beaches.
- A highly migratory species; their presence in New Zealand waters is seasonal and tied to ocean temperature and prey movements rather than a fixed resident population.
- More commonly encountered in southern New Zealand than in the north, where other shark species dominate the inshore catch.
Key Locations
- South Island offshore waters — blue sharks are more commonly encountered here than in the north, and are a recognised target for southern game-fishing boats.
- South Island rocky coastline — land-based anglers access blues from headlands and beaches where deep water comes close inshore.
Specific Spots
- Offshore: work the temperature breaks and current edges where cooler and warmer water masses meet — blue sharks concentrate where squid and baitfish stack up along these boundaries.
- Inshore from the South Island: rocky headlands and points where deep water pushes close to shore give land-based anglers access without a boat.
- Berley (chum) trails are the standard method for drawing blues to the boat or shore position — they follow the slick up-current from a long way off.
Blue Shark FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Blue Shark?
Whole squid or large squid baits are the most consistent producers, matching the blue shark's primary prey. Fresh is better than frozen where possible. Whole or large cut fish baits, mackerel, kahawai, or similar oily species, work well drifted back in a berley trail. The oil slick draws sharks from distance.
When is the best time to fish for Blue Shark?
Summer and autumn (December–April) tend to produce the most consistent offshore encounters as water temperatures peak and migratory sharks move through the EEZ. Availability drops off through winter as water cools and fish move to different depth ranges or latitudes.
How do you catch Blue Shark?
Most blue sharks in New Zealand are taken by boat anglers drifting offshore with a berley trail running behind the vessel, presenting whole squid or fish baits in the slick. Land-based fishing from South Island rocky headlands is also a legitimate approach where deep water is accessible from shore.
What do Blue Shark eat?
Squid is the primary forage, blue sharks key on squid that rise toward the surface at night during their nightly vertical migration. Large squid imitations or whole squid baits are the most direct match. Also eat bony fish, mackerel, herring, and similar pelagic species, as well as smaller sharks and carrion.
Where do Blue Shark live?
Found in offshore waters throughout the New Zealand EEZ, from the surface down to at least 1,000 m, a genuinely wide-ranging pelagic species. Primarily oceanic, but moves closer inshore where the continental shelf narrows, which is why South Island land-based anglers encounter them from rocky headlands and beaches.
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