Fish diurnal

Longfin Mako

Isurus paucus

A ghostly glider of the deep, the Longfin Mako is defined by its massive pectoral fins and mysterious habits. This rare pelagic shark is a master of the ocean's twilight zone.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Grows to a maximum length of 4.3 meters (14 feet) and can weigh up to 70 kg (154 lbs).

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Colors

Deep metallic blue to grayish-black on top with a stark white underside; uniquely features dark/dusky coloration under the snout and around the mouth.

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Key Features

Extremely long, broad pectoral fins that often exceed the length of the head
Large, dark eyes specialized for deep-water hunting
Slender, hydrodynamic body shape
Pointed snout with dark pigmentation on the underside

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours Active 24 hours a day, with increased activity at dawn and dusk following prey migrations.

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Season Year-round in tropical climates; occasionally sighted in temperate zones during late summer and autumn.

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Diet A specialized hunter of the open sea, it primarily feeds on schooling bony fishes and various species of squid found in deep water.

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Habitat Deep pelagic waters in tropical and warm-temperate regions, typically found at depths of 200 meters (650 feet) or more.

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Behavior

The Longfin Mako is the more elusive and mysterious relative of the well-known Shortfin Mako. While the Shortfin is celebrated for its incredible speed and acrobatic leaps, the Longfin has a much more specialized, slower-paced lifestyle. Its exceptionally long pectoral fins and slimmer build suggest it is a graceful, energy-efficient glider rather than a high-speed sprinter. It spends the majority of its life in the open ocean, often at depths that keep it well away from human sight.

Solitary by nature, these sharks are rarely seen in groups and tend to inhabit the 'twilight zone' of the ocean. Because they are endothermic (warm-blooded), they can regulate their body temperature, allowing them to hunt in much colder, deeper waters than most other fish. Despite their size, they are considered less aggressive than other mackerel sharks, though they remain top-tier predators of the pelagic zone.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Longfin Mako on camera is a specialized feat because they live in the open ocean rather than near the coast. Since you won't find them in a literal backyard, you'll need to deploy a Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) system. These systems are essentially 'trail cameras for the sea.' For the best chance of success, your camera housing must be depth-rated to at least 250 meters and equipped with strong LED lights to illuminate the dark, deep-water environment.

Placement is critical: look for 'blue water' areas where the continental shelf drops off sharply into the deep. Suspend your camera rig from a surface buoy at a depth of 30 to 60 meters, as this is a common corridor for these sharks. Using a high-quality scent lure is essential; a mesh bait bag filled with mashed mackerel or oily tuna will create a 'chum slick' in the current that can draw a curious Mako in from kilometers away.

Because the Longfin Mako moves with a slow, gliding motion, set your camera to record in 4K at 60fps. This allows you to slow down the footage in post-production to appreciate the shimmer of their metallic skin and the movement of those massive pectoral fins. Ensure your camera is set to a wide-angle view, as these sharks can be surprisingly large when they pass close to the lens. If you are using an ROV or a motorized camera, keep the noise to a minimum; these sharks are often more skittish than their Shortfin cousins and may be deterred by loud mechanical whirring.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Longfin Mako.

Shortfin Mako

Much faster and more athletic, with shorter pectoral fins and a clean white underside on the snout.

Blue Shark

Has a much longer, narrower snout and longer body, with a different placement of the dorsal fin.

Porbeagle

Heavier-bodied with a distinct white patch on the trailing edge of the dorsal fin.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are active around the clock, but often show increased hunting activity during dawn and dusk as they follow the 'vertical migration' of squid and fish rising from the depths.

The most effective way is using a BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video) system with an oily bait like sardines or mackerel to create a long-distance scent trail in the open ocean.

Their diet consists mainly of cephalopods (squid) and small bony fishes, which they track using their large eyes and heat-sensing abilities in deep water.

No, they are strictly pelagic sharks, meaning they live in the open ocean. It is very rare to find them near the shore or in shallow coastal waters.

Look at the pectoral fins; the Longfin's are as long or longer than its head, while the Shortfin's are much shorter. Additionally, the Longfin has dark pigment under its snout, whereas the Shortfin is usually pure white there.

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