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Mass. State record porbeagle 482-1/2 lbs. Caught by Jamie and Matt Grimes on Sept. 5, 2009 This record was broken in 2011 by a 495 lb fish. (more info to follow.) |
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Salmon shark, Lamna ditropis |
Porbeagle, Lamna nasus Max. Size: 10 foot fork length, 750 lbs. Water temp 32 -64 degrees The temperature range of 40-50 degrees ideal for porbeagles. IGFA record - 507 lbs.......Maine State record - 548 lbs |
There are 2 Lamna species . Lamna nasus, and Lamna ditropis. In New England, and across the Atlantic to the British Isles and Europe, and on into the Mediterranean, we have the Porbeagle, Lamna nasus. In the southern hemisphere the porbeagle, Lamna nasus is also found in the southern areas of South America, Africa and Australia. A Canadian longliner Capt. says that they have actually longlined porbeagles in 32 deg. water - that is about 4 degs. above the freezing point of saltwater. The preferred set for a longliner targeting porbeagles is 40- 50 deg. water. The water in New England is never to cold for a porbeagle and they are here year round. The female porbeagles get larger than the males. A female can reach 600 lbs, and a male around 450 lbs. (Females being larger than the males is not the case in every shark species.) |
Only two sharks in the world have the short ridge on the upper part of the lower tail lobe. They are the porbeagle, Lamna nasus and the salmon shark, Lamna ditropis. |
The salmon shark differs from the porbeagle in some external characteristics; it lacks the white area on the back of the dorsal, has a shorter snout, and the salmon shark has dark spots all over the white underside including under the pectoral fins. These spots can be lacking in the smaller specimens. In this photo you can see the secondary keel on the lower tail lobe, as indicated by the arrow. Only the porbeagle and salmon shark have this characeristic. Lamna ditropis the salmon shark, is on the West Coast, Alaska, and on over to China. We don't have them here in New England. |
It's porbeagle weather |
white on back of dorsal |
The water is never to cold for a porbeagle in New England. The white patch on back of the dorsal is usually very noticeable. The tiny second dorsal is directly over, or slightly toward the tail in relation to the anal fin below. Porbeagles and salmon sharks are the only two shark species with the secondary keel on the tail. And yes that small porbeagle was tagged and released by Mike Delzingo. |
Mark photo |
secondary keel |
PORBEAGLE Fork Length 10 feet 9.5 feet 9 feet 8.5 feet 8 feet 7.5 feet 7 feet 6.5 feet 6 feet Fork Length |
750 lbs. 645 lbs. 530 lbs. 440 lbs. 370 lbs. 300 lbs. 260 lbs. 210 lbs. 165 lbs. |
Porbeagles are in New England waters year round. They tend to swim in groups, unlike makos. |
secondary keel |