Dusky Shark 
Dusky Shark
Carcharhinus obscurus
Average Weight/Length
Weighs up to 250 pounds. Maximum is probably around 500 pounds. World record 764 pounds.
Other "Popular" Names for this Fish
Blue Bonito, False Albacore, Little Tuna
Location Habitat
Primarily coastal, from beaches to deep reefs. Found in coastal and offshore waters but not oceanic. Adults are commonly found at depths of 200-400 m, young in shallower waters. A seasonal migratory species over parts of its range. Common component of the catch of the shark longline fishery. Feeds on bottom and pelagic bony fish, sharks, skates, rays, cephalopods, gastropods, crustaceans, sometimes mammalian carrion and inorganic objects. Viviparous; with litter size number from 3-14. Large adults are potentially dangerous
Biology & Physical Description
Dark gray above, shading to whitish below. Dorsal fin is triangular but not so broad as the Sandbar Shark, to which it is quite similar. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 0. A large shark with a broadly rounded snout, triangular saw-edged upper teeth, curved moderate-sized pectoral fins, and an interdorsal ridge. Blue-grey, lead-grey above, white below; tips of pectoral and pelvic fins, as well as lower lobe of caudal fin and dorsal fins often dusky in young, plain in adults
Life Cycle & Mating Behavior
Viviparous, with a yolk-sac placenta, litter size 3-14 pups; 70-100 cm at birth. Gestation period of ~ 16 months. Distinct pairing with embrace
Geographic Species Map (Fishbase.org Map)
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Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: southern Massachusetts to Florida (USA), Georges Bank, Bahamas, Cuba, northern Gulf of Mexico, Nicaragua, southern Brazil and Uruguay. Eastern Atlantic: Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Senegal, Sierra Leone. Some records from the Mediterranean and Madeira may be based on Carcharhinus galapagensis. Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Mozambique and South Africa to Japan, China, Viet Nam and Australia. Eastern Pacific: southern California, USA to Gulf of California and the Revillagigedo Island. Highly migratory species, |
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Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org) |
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Tackle & Baits
Medium to heavy ocean outfits; go lighter at your own risk. Any sort of fresh-dead fish or large fresh chunk of cut bait will work.
Game Rating
Game Rating : 8.5/10
Game Description :
Strong and stubborn.
Food Rating
Game Rating : 7.5/10
Game Description :
Good. Utilized fresh, dried-salted, frozen and smoked for human consumption; hides for leather; fins for sharks-fin soup; and liver oil extracted for vitamins
