Shark - Thresher
name: Shark - Thresher
other names: N/A
Colour varies from brown to black with metallic hues from above and irregular white markings on the underside. The thresher shark is characterized by its large upper caudal fin. This tail fin may often be 50 percent of the total length of the shark. It has a short snout and large eyes placed forward on the head. The second dorsal fin is much smaller than the first. The thresher is a strong swimmer and can leap clear of the water. The jaws are small with small, curved sharp teeth without basal cusps or serrations. Colour varies from brown to black with metallic hues from above and irregular white markings on the underside.
The thresher shark is a pelagic species inhabiting both coastal and oceanic waters. It is most commonly observed far from shore, although it wanders close to the coast in search of food. Adults are common over the continental shelf, while juveniles reside in coastal bays and near shore waters. It's mostly seen on the surface but it inhabits waters to 1,800 feet (550 m) in depth.
The thresher shark eats schooling fish, such as herring and mackerel and cephalopods such as squid. The large caudal fin is used to slap the surface of the water forcing fish to form tighter schools; the tail can then be used as a whip to stun or kill the prey.
The maximum size recorded for this species is 6.1 meters, however they generally are between 2 to 5 meters in length. This shark is ovoviviparous, with the eggs being hatched inside the female, and 2 to 6 live pups being delivered at a size of 1.5 meters long. During development the young may cannibalize their siblings within the uterine chamber.
A 50 lbs to 80 LBS rod and reel is a must for Thresher Shark fishing, and again a move up to an even stronger rig, up to 130 lb IGFA standards, is recommended. Wire trace is essential and the standard shark bait of a full mackerel is a bit on small side - Thresher Sharks will as readily feed on Bonito and small Tuna as they will Mackerel.
