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23/03/2005: "Blue Pointer Sharks .........Isurus oxyrrinchus"
Also called mako this is the blue water cousin of the white pointer shark.
A spectacular shark when hooked - a very dangerous one too. They'll spin head over tail in the air; smash through the hull of a boat (when heading for the surface); or crash aboard a boat during their final jump. A serious problem indeed.
The line and wire trace leading to the hood can easily become as lethal as a knife during the final moment before the shark is tagged and released, or gaffed.
This is an Australian record, captured by Odile Foster while fishing off the NSW south coast village of Bermagui - a location made famous in the 1930's by big game fishermen from USA - and the legend lasts today with many small boats heading offshore to Montague Island during the holidays.
To Eat: The blue pointer is popular as a boneless fish fillet and sells well. Woolworths at Burleigh Heads says it is their biggest selling fresh fish.
Probably loaded with the heavy metal mercury and therefore not a good choice for food, as are marlin, swordfish and other sharks. I wouldn't touch any of them.
In Japan this shark is ground into a paste called surimi.
Diving Still a rarely photographed shark underwater. Only small versions seem to have been photographed. The most spectacular shark of all, especially when a large specimen is involved.
An oceanic blue water pelagic which most scuba divers inshore in shallow water will not encounter.
Teeth More similar to those of a grey nurse shark - being longer and pointed, like fingers, whereas the cousin white pointer (often called great white shark by media non professionals) has large triangular teeth in the upper jaw and narrower trianular versions below.
