SHARK ID

[MarlinMoz]

Hi Guys,

Wonder if anyone could help me identify this shark.

I caught it in about 200ft (65m) of water off Bazaruto islands in southern Mozambique in late December. I have chartered on the archipelago for the last 9 straight years and we get a good number of shark species such as bull´s (zambeze´s), java (pigeye´s), tigers, dusky´s, blacktip´s, blackfin´s, scalloped & great hammerhead etc, etc…but it is the first time I have seen this one.

Unfortunately this is the only photo I have from it as it broke the mono leader when I tried to pick it up to take a photo of the jaw/teeth. I have looked and asked around and spinner shark, big nose shark etc come up but at closer look there is no way.To me the closest it comes to is a sandbar, but even then the pectorals seem to sharp and the snout way to pointy.

But the really odd scenario here is that I got it on a Marlin lure trolled at 7 knots…since mako´s are almost unheard of in these waters it is the first time I have caught a shark on a lure on Bazaruto.

We actually had a quadruple strike with the legends Piper on the SG being one of the first to go. The other 3 fish were all YF between 22-35 lbs (10-15kg). I never did see the strike on the SG, but my 1st Mate Alex told me he thought it was a small Marlin as there was a lot of trashing (and of course we never do expect a shark). The fish fought very much like a small hammer with mid water dashes and then coming up close to the surface in two instances.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

Cheers,
Duarte

[Capt_John]

Silky Shark

[MarlinMoz]

Thanks Capt_John,

I had thought about silky, not only it resembled one to me but also because of their known association with tuna (and this one was caught in between YF) but we rarely see them in shallow waters and I must say I have not come across many. Most that I have seen have been in real open water environments like Bassas da India Athol (230 NM out from Bazaruto) and up the Lazarus banks, 45 NM out in northern Mozambique.

The only thing that bothered me is that what mostly distinguishes silky sharks is their relatively small first dorsal fin which almost looks like equatorial triangle with a bit of a curve - as opposed to the long pointy one on this one.

The other point is that if one draws a vertical line upwards right across a silky at the end of the pectoral´s the dorsal only starts a bit beyond it. On this one the dorsal seems to start much closer to the head.

[HOLWACHAGOT]

I think the dorsal is distorted by the water...
It's definitely a shark though.
Holwachagot

[Roddy Hays]

Duarte,

Mako with a well-earned tan ?

Other possiblities might include :

Carcharhinus galapagensis (galapagos shark)
Carcharhinus plumbeus (sandbar shark)
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (grey reef shark)

It's funny how the body resembles a hammerhead. Really high pointed dorsal like that is so reminiscent of one.

My choice would be the Galapagos. At Midway we used to hook them regularly on lures, in and around schools of other fish. They loved swimming with skipjack.

**sighs heavily with the memory of countless lost live-baits**

There's probably a bunch of other contenders, but that really sharp face makes life strangely difficult.....

Can I have a hi-res copy of the photo for our files ? Along with those striped bass of Vinny's last year that has to be a pretty strange victim for Mr. Piper !

[MarlinMoz]

Roddy,

Not a tanned mako - have only seen three in Mozambique in the last 20 odd years, but funny enough just yesterday a friend of mine had to shoot one while spear fishing when it got really aggressive towards him…jumped countless times and the broke the 8mm spear!

I had not thought about the Galapagos, never heard of them being seen on Bazaruto, but then I believe they can be easily misidentified as a dusky, which we do see frequently…what you say of them taking lures makes me think...as I have never had a dusky or any other shark do that of Baz.

Striped Bass…you must be kidding me!!!! Well, talk about a versatile lure!!!!

By the way it was the first time I run her and she had already caught me a couple sailies, wahoo and a Marlin for the charter…that is until Mr. Galapagos, dusky, silky, spinner, sandbar, grey reef, copper or whatever it is decide to munch and break her neck!

Have mailed you a hi-res copy, let me know if you get it!