Fisherman usually hack their fins off then toss the shark back into the sea, often alive, to die a lingering death. Porbeagles generally move offshore into deeper water to overwinter, though some are captured in the fall-early winter in the Gulf of Maine. Only time will tell whether a population of porbeagles splits off from this main group to remain in Maine waters through the summer. Porbeagle distribution is largely determined by water temperature. Porbeagle prefer water cooler than 62 degrees, and will tolerated water as cold as 33 degrees.
Larger individuals can tolerate cooler water than can juveniles.
Some porbeagles are present in the Gulf of Maine all year. These slow-growing sharks can reach 10 feet in length and weigh as much as 650 pounds. They may live to be 40 years of age. These fascinating pelagic sharks are often found quite close to shore though the pose no threat to swimmers. Blue sharks migrate into the Gulf of Maine through either the Great South Channel or the Northeast Channel.