---
title: "Record Mako"
description: "Sharks will always draw a crowd and the one that 20-year-old Taylor Sears of Scituate, Mass. hung on the dock scales the other day was no different. But it was really quite different--perhaps the biggest male mako shark ever caught on a rod and reel. Sears, a summertime charterboat mate, and crew were fishing for bluefin tuna in the southwest corner of Stellwagon Bank on Thursday when they hooked into a tuna. After a 45-minute fight, the big shark decided that it was time to eat and chomped the tuna in half. A quick re-rig and Sears was shark fishing and hooked the mako within minutes. It took two-hours to boat the 624-pounder."
date: "2009-08-29"
modified: "2009-08-29"
authors:
  - name: "Gerry Bethge"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/gerry-bethge.md"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/gone-fishin/2009/08/record-mako/"
categories:
  - "Fishing"
  - "Record Fish"
  - "Saltwater Fishing"
  - "Shark Fishing"
---

# Record Mako

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/AJUT3VSH6P2SQH7Z6WOVFUNU6Q.jpg>)

Sharks will always draw a crowd and the one that 20-year-old Taylor Sears of Scituate, Mass. hung on the dock scales the other day was no different. But it was really quite different--perhaps the biggest male mako shark ever caught on a rod and reel.

Sears, a summertime charterboat mate, and crew were fishing for bluefin tuna in the southwest corner of Stellwagon Bank on Thursday when they hooked into a tuna. After a 45-minute fight, the big shark decided that it was time to eat and chomped the tuna in half. A quick re-rig and Sears was shark fishing and hooked the mako within minutes. It took two-hours to boat the 624-pounder.

Whereas many larger makos have been taken on hook and line, most big fish are females. Shark specialist Greg Skomal of the Division of Marine Fisheries, says that the 10-foot fish is the largest ever male mako recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

To read more about record sharks click here: [outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/fishing/2009/05/world-record-sharks](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/biggest-sharks-ever-caught/>)

## Author
The “Elder Statesman,” of the *Outdoor Life* staff, Gerry Bethge began his career at the magazine in 1982. He was fortunate to have worked side-by-side with outdoor-media icons such as: Jim Carmichel, Jim Zumbo, Jerry Gibbs, and Charlie Elliot among others. During his career, he has held numerous titles including: executive editor, fishing editor, web editor, and editor-in-chief of brand licensing.