blue whaler, great blue shark, bluedog

Blue sharks are distributed circum-globally in temperate and tropical waters. They are mainly oceanic but occasionally move into inshore continental shelf waters, especially at night.

It is dark cobalt or indigo blue dorsally, lightening to bright blue on the flanks and white on the belly. It is also unique among sharks in that the larger teeth of the upper jaw are 'saber-shaped,' with one margin broadly convex, the other concave. The teeth are serrated along the edges. Those in the lower jaw are narrower and very sharp.

In spite of its voracious and predatory nature and swiftness in the water, it sometimes puts up a poor fight when hooked. Fishing methods include chumming with live or dead baits or trolling. Baits include squid, eels, mackerel, herring and other live or whole fishes as well as cut baits.Although edible, it does not rate high as table fare. All sharks begin to smell strongly of ammonia once urea decomposition sets in and, consequently, they require prompt preparation if they are to be eaten.