Shortfin Mako
The shortfin mako is New Zealand's premier game shark, with deep roots in the country's big-game fishing culture — Zane Grey wrote about chasing them here in 1926.
Found in offshore waters around both islands, makos are caught by game boats targeting billfish and tuna, and are also taken as bycatch on commercial tuna longlines.
The name itself is Māori, reflecting how central this shark is to New Zealand's oceanic identity.
Scientific Name: Isurus oxyrinchus
Also known as Mako, blue pointer, bonito shark
- Dark metallic blue-grey on the back, lighter metallic blue on the sides, and a clean white underside — the colour break is sharp and distinctive.
- Pointed conical snout, long gill slits, and a stiff crescent-shaped tail built for speed; teeth are long, curved, and visible even with the mouth closed.
- Average fish run 6–7 feet; large adults can reach 12–13 feet. Juveniles and adult males dominate New Zealand catches — mature females are rarely encountered here.
- Can be confused with the longfin mako (Isurus paucus), which has noticeably longer pectoral fins, larger eyes, and a darker underside to the snout.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A native pelagic species found throughout New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone, caught across all ten Fisheries Management Areas but concentrated around continental shelf and slope waters.
- Most game-fishing action happens in offshore waters around the northern North Island, where warm subtropical currents push close to the coast.
- Tagging studies show New Zealand makos range widely across the southwestern Pacific — some have been recaptured off eastern Australia and tropical islands to the north.
- Primarily an open-ocean species; not a reef or inshore fish.
Key Locations
- Northern North Island offshore waters — the primary area where game boats target and tag makos, with warm currents bringing fish close to the shelf edge.
- Continental shelf and slope waters around both main islands — makos are caught across all of New Zealand's Fisheries Management Areas, but shelf-edge grounds are most productive.
Specific Spots
- Offshore temperature breaks and current edges concentrate baitfish and the tuna that makos follow — these are the productive zones to work.
- Makos are often found near the surface and will breach when feeding, so watch for surface activity around floating debris or weed lines that aggregate prey.
- Around northern North Island, the shelf edge and deeper blue water beyond it are the primary areas where game boats encounter them.
Shortfin Mako FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Shortfin Mako?
Whole dead baits, skipjack tuna, kahawai, or mackerel, fished on a wire trace are the most common approach when specifically targeting or chumming for makos. Skirted trolling lures in squid or small-tuna profiles, trolled as part of a spread targeting billfish and tuna, account for many incidental hookups.
When is the best time to fish for Shortfin Mako?
Summer and autumn (December through April) bring the warmest offshore water temperatures and the most reliable mako activity around northern New Zealand. Winter and spring see makos move away from inshore shelf waters as surface temperatures drop, making them harder to find from game-fishing ports.
How do you catch Shortfin Mako?
New Zealand game boats pursue makos offshore, typically as part of a mixed billfish-and-shark trip. Trolling a spread of skirted lures covers ground to find fish, while drifting with a berley trail and whole baits is the dedicated approach when makos are known to be in an area.
What do Shortfin Mako eat?
Squid and pelagic fish, tuna, swordfish, and other sharks, make up the bulk of the diet. Large, fast-moving lures and baits that mimic these prey items are the go-to approach.
Where do Shortfin Mako live?
A native pelagic species found throughout New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone, caught across all ten Fisheries Management Areas but concentrated around continental shelf and slope waters.
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