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How to catch Dusky shark

Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur, 1818)

About Dusky shark fishing

The dusky shark belongs to the requiset shark family Carcharhinidae and is recognised by its streamlined fusiform body, short rounded snout, and long sickle-shaped pectoral fins. It reaches a maximum length of four hundred and twenty centimetres and a maximum weight of over three hundred kilograms, featuring a blue-grey or lead-grey back and a white underside. This oceanic and coastal species inhabits warm-temperate and tropical waters down to four hundred metres, often undertaking extensive seasonal migrations toward the poles in summer. As an apex generalist predator, it feeds on a diverse diet of bony fishes, smaller sharks, rays, and cephalopods. Its slow growth rate, late maturity, and low reproductive output make populations extremely vulnerable, and it is classified globally as endangered.

  • Difficulty

    Medium

  • Average size

    250 cm TL

  • Market value

    Medium

  • Habitat

    Brackish, Saltwater

  • Season

    Summer, Autumn

  • Also known as

    Bay-shark, Black whaler, Black whaler shark, Bronze shark whaler, Bronze whaler, Brown common gray shark

Dusky shark

Heterocercal caudal

Large heterocercal caudal fin with an elongated upper lobe typical of requiem sharks.

Curved pectoral fins

Moderate-sized, curved pectoral fins help distinguish this species from similar sharks.

Dusky shark fishing facts

Characteristics

  • Typical size

    250 cm TL (max 420 cm TL )

  • Typical weight

    25.5 kg (max 346.5 kg )

  • Preferred temperature

    8.7–18.6 °C

  • Depth

    0–400 m

  • Longevity

    40 years

  • Body shape

    Fusiform / Normal

  • Commercial?

  • Vulnerability score

    87.7

Best hours

  • Dawn

    First light

    Active

  • Morning

    After sunrise

    Active

  • Midday

    High sun

    Low

  • Afternoon

    Late day

    Low

  • Dusk

    Last light

    Peak

  • Night

    After dark

    Peak

When to fish for Dusky shark

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January
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February
03
March
04
April
05
May
06
June
07
July
08
August
09
September
10 Now
October
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November
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December

How to catch Dusky shark

Tips for catching Dusky shark

Target this large coastal predator by anchoring over deep drop offs or drifting across outer continental shelves where temperature breaks occur. Heavy conventional gear equipped with wire traces and strong circle hooks is essential when presenting large oily baits like whole mackerel or squid. Deploy continuous scent trails using heavy fish chum to draw cruising specimens up from deep water toward your presentation. Fishing during early morning hours or throughout falling tides yields the most consistent action.

Other names for Dusky shark

Local and alternate names anglers use for Dusky shark.

  • Brown shark
  • Common whaler
  • Brown common gray shark
  • Brown dusky shark
  • Bronze whaler
  • Bronze shark whaler
  • Black whaler shark
  • Black whaler
  • Common whaler shark
  • Dusky ground shark
  • Dusky shark
  • Slender whaler shark
  • Shovelnose
  • Shark
  • Requin obscur
  • Dusky whaler
  • River whaler
  • Whaler shark

Best equipment to catch Dusky shark

Compare fishing methods for Dusky shark — sized kit for each technique.

Note: Typical fish is 25.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.

Best lures and baits for Dusky shark

Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.

How Dusky shark migrates — Oceanodromous

Migrates within the sea between spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and never enters fresh water. Follow its seasonal shifts along the coast and offshore.

How Dusky shark migrates — Oceanodromous 1. Young: Born live, not hatched from eggs. 2. Juveniles: Grow up in sheltered nursery waters. 3. Adults: Range widely over the feeding grounds. 4. Mature adults: Return to the breeding grounds to give birth.
Breeding grounds Nursery grounds Feeding grounds

1 Young

Breeding grounds

Born live, not hatched from eggs.

2 Juveniles

Nursery grounds

Grow up in sheltered nursery waters.

3 Adults

Feeding grounds

Range widely over the feeding grounds.

4 Mature adults

→ Breeding grounds

Return to the breeding grounds to give birth.

It stays in the sea and never runs up into fresh water.

Hover or tap a number to read each stage.

Diet and behavior of Dusky shark

  • Diet

    Top predator

  • Feeds by

    Hunts animals

  • Hunts

    Dusk · Night

  • Main prey

    Baitfish

Prey and predators of Dusky shark

Prey is what Dusky shark eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.

That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.

Prey

What it eats

Baitfish

  • Arripis truttaceus juv./adults
  • Centroberyx affinis juv./adults
  • Lethrinus miniatus juv./adults
  • Myliobatis australis juv./adults
  • Pomatomus saltator juv./adults
  • Seriola dumerili juv./adults
  • Seriola lalandi juv./adults
  • Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis juv./adults
  • Thunnus albacares juv./adults

Predators

What hunts it

Fish

  • Carcharhinus limbatus juv./adults
  • Carcharodon carcharias recruits/juv.
  • Galeocerdo cuvier recruits/juv.
  • Isurus oxyrinchus recruits/juv.

Where Dusky shark lives

Tied to reefs and rocky structure in shallow coastal water.

Habitats
Brackish, Saltwater
Depth zone
Sublittoral, Bathyal
0–400 m
Usually 200–400 m
Water column
Benthic
Structure and substrate

Where this species lives

Where to fish for Dusky shark

Mapped fishing spots where Dusky shark is recorded — open a pin for access and methods.

Lake Waiataru

AucklandAucklandNew Zealand