Rarely Seen Sharks That Call the Oregon Coastline Home

“Jaws” may have been filmed on the East Coast in Martha’s Vineyard, but real sharks have an incredible range. Sharks are found all over the world, inhabiting coastlines from the South China Sea to the Caribbean. Oregon, with its long, jagged coastline, is no exception as sharks routinely appear in its cooler waters.

Indeed, there are over 15 shark species that traverse the state’s coast. They range from giant specimens like the Basking Shark to the tiny, unassuming Brown Cat Shark. While most aren’t dangerous to humans, some, like the Great White, are responsible for deadly attacks on humans. Luckily, shark attacks are incredibly rare in the region. Of the 31 attacks documented in Oregon since 1958, only one—occurring in 1975—was fatal. Most of them amounted to little more than a bitten surfboard. With the risks addressed, let’s explore the largest shark species found along the Oregon Coast.

Basking Shark

The Basking Shark (Cetorhinus Maximus) is the second-largest living species of shark. It has a sizeable body and a pointed snout. The color of its body is typically shades of gray, slate gray, bluish-gray, or grayish-brown. That body is huge, too, spanning up to 32 feet long. The Basking Shark also has a large, crescent-shaped tail and massive gills that extend from the top to the bottom of its head. Their range takes them all over the world, including the Oregon Coast.

Basking Sharks are filter feeders, using their sizeable mouths to scoop up plankton near the water’s surface. They may be huge, but they are gentle giants. These sharks are known to tolerate boats and even circle divers peacefully. Historically, Basking Sharks were a staple of the fishing industry due to their slow speed and calm disposition. In recent years, however, declining numbers have led to the Basking Shark being listed as Endangered by the IUCN and protected under international agreements such as CITES Appendix II, which restricts hunting and trade. They don’t attack humans, but have been known to attack hunting boats after being harpooned.

Great White Shark

The Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is one of the most feared predators in the ocean, and for good reason: they are responsible for the most attacks on humans. These apex predators grow up to 21 feet long, with their bodies tapering at both ends. They have large, black eyes, a short snout, and big, serrated teeth. They are found worldwide, including off the coast of Oregon, where they can swim as deep as 4,100 feet. However, Great White Sharks typically stay near the shore, often frequenting enclosed bays and estuaries.

This preference for shallow water increases the likelihood of encounters with humans. Of the 13 shark attacks reported off the Oregon Coast between 2000 and 2019, Great White Sharks have been the suspected culprits in most cases. Although it may seem like Great White Sharks target humans, research suggests that most shark attacks result from mistaken identity. Great Whites can’t see in great detail, so they often mistake human silhouettes on the surface for seals or other prey. Plus, their digestive system can’t cope with humans’ high ratio of bone to muscle and fat. They usually let go of people after the first bite.

Common Thresher Shark

The Common Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) is easily identified by the extended upper lobe of its caudal fin. Even though these sharks can grow up to 20 feet long, much of their length comes from their enormous, machete-like back fin. The Common Thresher Shark uses its elongated fin to herd fish before stunning and eating them. It has large eyes, a white belly, and a brownish-black color on top of its body.

Common Thresher Sharks are distributed worldwide but migrate with the seasons. In the Pacific Ocean, this takes them from the Southern California Coast near Baja up north to Oregon and British Columbia. They prefer the open ocean, but sometimes come near the shore where fish are abundant. While regulations are in place to minimize the bycatch of Common Thresher Sharks, the Pacific population is not overfished and not subject to overfishing according to the latest NOAA assessment.

Sixgill Shark

The Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus) gets its name from the six prominent gill slits behind its head. It’s also known as the Pig Shark due to its broad, flat snout. These sharks have big, bright green eyes, a single dorsal fin, and dark gray or brown coloring on top of their body with a white belly below. Sixgill Sharks grow up to 15 feet long.

They range worldwide, reaching places like Oregon, but Sixgill Sharks prefer the deep water. They are typically found near continental shelves at depths of up to 6,500 feet. These sharks usually move slowly but can accelerate rapidly when hunting their varied diet of fish, squid, shrimp, seals, and even smaller sharks. As for humans, Sixgill Sharks seem at ease around divers. That said, there are rare cases of them attacking, but only if provoked.

Blue Shark

One of the more slender shark species, Blue Sharks (Prionace glauca) get their name from their brilliant blue coloring, which is a dark indigo on top that fades in color down their body before whitening at the belly. They also have big eyes and extended pectoral fins. As one of the most common sharks, Blue Sharks are widely distributed across the world. They grow to 13 feet, but average around 10 feet in length.

Blue Sharks prefer deep, cool waters, but are also known to swim near the surface. Squid is a staple of their diet, but they will eat other invertebrates such as cuttlefish and octopuses. They can be found across the Pacific Ocean, from the Gulf of Alaska to Chile. They are routinely spotted off the coast of Southern California but migrate north to areas like Oregon as the water warms. While Blue Sharks are not overtly aggressive, they have attacked humans in thirteen documented cases. Due to being one of the most heavily fished sharks in the world, Blue Sharks are currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Shortfin Mako Shark

Whereas the two previous sharks on this list are usually sluggish, the Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is fast. It can reach up to 43 mph in bursts due to its tapered, aerodynamic body. The Shortfin Mako Shark looks like a cross between a Great White Shark and a Blue Shark, with its pointed snout, cool, blue coloring, and large, black eyes. It also has the most nicknames of any shark on this list; it’s known in different parts of the world as the bonito shark, the blue pointer, the mako shark, and the marrajo. Shortfin Makos grow over 12 feet long. This shark is also featured as a prominent character in Ernest Hemingway’s classic novel “The Old Man and the Sea.”

While Mako Sharks are found all over the world, they typically show up where swordfish
—a staple of their diet—congregate. Even so, they are generalist hunters that prey upon everything from tuna and porpoises to other sharks. They are prized in the gamefishing industry, but they are also a danger to humans. There have been 10 unprovoked attacks on humans attributed to Shortfin Makos, one of which resulted in a fatality. They are said to open their mouths and swim in figure-eight patterns before striking.

Salmon Shark

Salmon Sharks (Lamna ditropis) get their name from their zealous hunting of salmon. Their tapered bodies grow up to 10 feet long, with a splotchy coloring that ranges from bluish-gray to black. They also have stubby, cone-like snouts. Thanks to their tapered frames and coloring, Salmon Sharks are often mistaken for Great White Sharks. Luckily, they are far less dangerous to humans. While they have been suspected in some incidents, there are no confirmed reports of Salmon Sharks attacking humans.

Instead, salmon sharks primarily hunt salmon, squid, sablefish, and herring. They are known to hunt in large packs of up to 30 or 40 individuals. Unlike other sharks on this list, which travel across the world with the seasons, Salmon Sharks stick to the Pacific Ocean in areas above the equator. They like the cold, temperate waters of places like the Bering Sea and the Oregon coast.