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Brown Smoothhound

Brown Smoothhound

Mustelus henlei
SharkSaltwaterEdibility: PoorSport Fish

Oceans & Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean — from the San Francisco Bay area south to the Gulf of California. Common in shallow bays, estuaries, and nearshore rocky reef areas along the California and Baja California coasts. A nearshore and inshore species rarely found far offshore.

Preferred Water Temperature: 55°F–68°F. A cool water Pacific shark well adapted to the seasonal temperature variations of California's bays and nearshore waters.

Size & Weight: Typically 2–3 feet and 5–15 lbs. Maximum approximately 4 feet. A slender, smooth-bodied shark with a pointed snout. Common in San Francisco Bay, Tomales Bay, and Elkhorn Slough — one of the most frequently caught sharks by California bay anglers.

Best Lures: Rarely taken on artificial lures. Small jigs occasionally produce catches.

Best Baits: Ghost shrimp are the number one bait in California bays. Pile worms produce excellent results. Fresh squid pieces work consistently. Small chunks of fish produce strikes. Light to medium spinning gear with 12–20 lb line is appropriate.

Range

Eastern Pacific Ocean — from the San Francisco Bay area south to the Gulf of California. Common in shallow bays, estuaries, and nearshore rocky reef areas along the California and Baja California coasts. A nearshore and inshore species rarely found far offshore.

Habitat

Brown smoothhounds inhabit shallow coastal waters, typically at depths from the surface to about 200 feet, though they are most commonly found in waters less than 50 feet deep. They show a strong preference for sandy or muddy bottoms in protected bays, estuaries, and sloughs where they forage for crustaceans and mollusks. These sharks are well-adapted to brackish environments and frequently enter areas with reduced salinity. They favor water temperatures between 50°F and 70°F and are often found near eelgrass beds, mudflats, and rocky reefs that provide abundant invertebrate prey. During warmer months they may move into very shallow water, including tidal channels and backwater areas. Brown smoothhounds are bottom-oriented feeders that use their flattened teeth to crush hard-shelled prey.

How to Catch Brown Smoothhound

Equipment

55°F–68°F. A cool water Pacific shark well adapted to the seasonal temperature variations of California's bays and nearshore waters.

Tackle & Bait

Best Lures:
Rarely taken on artificial lures. Small jigs occasionally produce catches.

Best Baits:
Ghost shrimp are the number one bait in California bays. Pile worms produce excellent results. Fresh squid pieces work consistently. Small chunks of fish produce strikes. Light to medium spinning gear with 12–20 lb line is appropriate.

Game Qualities

Typically 2–3 feet and 5–15 lbs. Maximum approximately 4 feet. A slender, smooth-bodied shark with a pointed snout. Common in San Francisco Bay, Tomales Bay, and Elkhorn Slough — one of the most frequently caught sharks by California bay anglers.

Taxonomy

kingdomAnimalia
phylumChordata
classElasmobranchii
orderCarcharhiniformes
familyTriakidae
genusMustelus
speciesMustelus henlei
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