Grayish with bronze tinge above, white below. Broad black bars, saddles, and spots on back and side. Short, bluntly rounded snout. Anal fin much larger than second dorsal fin. Terminal lobe of caudal fin long, but less than half the length of upper lobe.

Males to 1.5 m. (5 ft.) Females to 2.1 m. (7 ft.).

Oregon to Baja and northern Gulf of California.

Usually less than 2 fm. but up to 50 fm.

Picture: NowPublic.com; Text: Peterson Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes

Body flattened with large pectoral fins expanded laterally and separated from the head by a deep notch. The notches, behind and on each side of the head, contain gill openings. The two dorsal fins are located far back on the body and near the caudal fin (tail). The head is blunt with a wide terminal mouth. Nostrils and barbels are found at the front part of the head. Grayish brown above with dark spots on back. White below.

to 1.5 m (5 ft.)

SE Alaska to Chile and Gulf of California, but uncommon north of CA. Near reefs over sand or mud.

30 - 340 fm.

10 - 600 ft. but usually inside 300 feet off California.

Picture: Bill Barss, ODFW; Texts Love, Probably more than you want to know about the fishers of the Pacific coast. And Peterson Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes.

Stout, with bluntly conical snout. Secondary keel below rear of main caudal keel. First dorsal fin begins far forward. Second dorsal fin small, above anal fin. Dark bluish gray, gray-black, or mottled gray above; white below.

To 3 m. (10 ft.).

Japan to Bering Sea; Gulf of Alaska to central Baja.

Epipelagic, can be found just off shore.

Mackeral Shark

Picture: Bill Barss, ODFW.
Text: Peterson Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes

Snout long, pointed. Eye oval. 2nd dorsal fin nearly over anal fin and about same size. Mouth (seen from bottom) broadly arched. labial groove long but does not extend to front of mouth. Terminal lobe of caudal fin extremely large, about 1/2 the length of upper lobe. Teeth triangular, sharp-edged, with susplets. Bluish to dusky gray above; white below. Young under 2ft. (61 cm) have striking white edge on pectoral fin; both dorsal fins black-tipped, with a white spot; caudal fin black-tipped.

Males to 1.8 m( 6 feet), 60 lb; females to 2 m (6.5 feet), 100 lb.

Temperate waters, nearly worldwide; northern B.C. to central Baja; also Peru and Chile.

Offshore, also coastal and in bays; muddy shallows and to 225 fm. Females usually at less than 30 fm., males deeper.

Schooling, abundant, wide-ranging.

Picture: Bill Barss, ODFW
Text: Peterson Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes, 1983.