Shark - Spottail

Dispatch Method:

Beware of the sharp teeth of sharks when handling them. The eating qualities of spot tail sharks less than 120 cm (4 feet) long can be improved by killing them humanely by iki jime or a firm knock to the head before placing them in an ice slurry after bleeding. Sharks larger than around 120 cm (4 feet) long can be dispatched with a captive bolt tool or firearm (with appropriate safety precautions).

Fish Description:

• A small to medium sized shark, with a grey body, white to yellowish white belly, moderately rounded snout and black tips on the lower caudal, second dorsal and pectoral fins, but not the dorsal fin.
  
• Spottail sharks feed mainly on fishes, and cephalopods.
  
• Females mature at around 2-3 years old and 90 cm/3 feet long. They can live for around 8 years producing litters of 1 to 8 young annually.
  
• This species is relatively harmless, though they can inflict a nasty bite if handled carelessly.

Fish Distribution:

• Spot tail sharks occur throughout tropical and warm temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific region from east Africa to China, Phillippines and northern Australia.
  
• They frequent continental shelfs from estuaries and close inshore to about 150 m (500 feet) depth.

Fish Size Common Length:

Common between 60 and 120 cm (2-4 feet) long, maximum size around 160 cm (5 feet 4 inches) long and 28 kg (60 pounds).