Re: Mako's and The Thermocline -- Archive

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Subject: Re: Mako's and The Thermocline

Author:
ED

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Date Posted: 924118332PDT
In reply to: ED 's message, "Mako's and The Thermocline" on 923677710PDT

Posted by Dave Brackmann on April 09, 1999 at 15:36:04 at Sharktagger

Great topic and ideas that are all right on track with data I have read on makos. Jim, what a great theory. I'd agree with Dave (Hi Dave..longtime no speak)your theory makes so much sense it's got to be accurate. It would be interesting to hear a biologist's idea on this - Keith can you ask one?

The big makos I have seen here or heard about from harpoon boats and spotter planes have been most frequently seen in the months of August through October here in local waters. Maybe these fish are here with the migratory striped marlin, swordfish and yellowfin tuna - big bait. The most sightings have come from a particular area located North of Catalina and South of Santa Rosa (I'd rather not divulge for fear of a big female being killed). The big makos can also be found around the islands, in the earl spring when the seals pup, however they don't come up and hang inside the 50 fathom line like the whites do.

The biggest mako I ever so locally was in December (water 56 degrees) between the West End of Catalina and Pt. Fermin. The massive fish was thrashing something on the surface at about 150 yards down swell from me. I thought it was a pilot whale at first but saw too much white color. I ran up swell of the splash, killed the motor and drifted in the 20 kont winds and swell looking. Up swell the mako shot under the boats bow rolled on it's left side and I saw the big eyes and long pointed nose as the fish sunk out fast. There was an oil slick in the water in the area and a few white gulls picking at whatever it was the fish was eating. A 1/2 mile inside of the area where I saw the big fish I saw a pack of seals - I wonder if the big girl had fed on one of the fur dogs?

In Cabo we see lots of good size makos in the 200 - 400 lb. class. I have never seen one of these up top, rather get hit by them on big live yellowfin tuna baits. This most often occurs in the summer months, consequently the time when I'm pulling the big baits for blues / blacks. At this time the surface water temps range from the low 80's to the highs to low 90's. The thermocline is at about 100 feet wher it drops off quickly to the low 70's and even 60's in areas of upwelling. I like Jim's theory of the fish working the thermocline and coming up to feed when and only when it goes to feed. In talking to some longline captains I know back East who fish all over the world, they say the same preference for the cold water at and below the thermocline holds true for bigeye. They stay deep conserving energy in the cold water and rise into and slightly above the thermocline to feed on squid.

Dave

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