12-13-06 Mako Necropsy

We gathered at the Center of Science building at Texas A&M University ~ Corpus Christi campus (TAMUCC) at 10:00AM for the necropsy of the recently found mako. A good crowd of students, researchers, professors, interested biologists, and media had gather to observe.

First task was to take measurements. Fork length was roughly 9 ft long and the total length was a little over 10.5 ft. The mako weighed out to be about 440 lbs which is a little less than 100 lbs under weight.

Dr. Mckee spent most of the times speaking on history of sharks, pointing out key features of this shark, discussing findings, and answering questions. They spent a lot of time paying attention the the unique features about this species because an artist, Kent Ullberg, has been commissioned to make a bigger than life bronze sculpture.

Dr. Tristan, a local exotic veterinarian, and Dr. Morey, an Associate Professor at TAMUCC, did most of the cutting on the shark. Many students assisted in the dirty work.

Externally, the animal appeared to be healthy. Internally, for the most part, it seemed healthy. One noticeable thing was the liver. It appeared to be smaller than normal. The stomach contents included a small stingray, a couple of small fish, and a crab shell. Makos are built for chasing fast prey, but when times are tough, they become opportunistic like most other sharks. The smaller than usual liver and unusual prey items could account for the below normal body weight, but not necessary a cause for death. It may take sometime before the samples collected can provide additional information. Cause of death at this time can not be determined.

On December 6, 2006, Rocky from Roy's Bait and Tackle called me up once he had seen my story and told me a tale that a fisherman came in a week earlier telling him of seeing a 10' mako swimming on the surface. This was near the Dagger Island area along the Corpus Christi ship channel. They attempted to snag it and were successful. They fought it for over an hour. They called in an offshore boat from Port Aransas to assist. Once the other boat got there, the shark jumped and broke his line. Is this true? I don't know. However, this was a tale told a week prior to the fish coming to shore.

The following morning, Dr. Mckee called me about a similar tale that took place on November 26, 2006. This time he heard from a respectable boat Captain who is familiar with makos. He said they hooked one and fought it for an hour near Aransas Pass before losing it. Mckee asked if they lost their leader and if they could describe it. They said that they didn't lose their leader. Do we speculate that this is the same shark? Are there multiple makos in the bay? Odds are its the same fish.