Saltwater · Year-round in bays; best late spring through fall, peak summer
Broadnose Sevengill Shark
Notorynchus cepedianus
A powerful top bay predator best known for having seven gill slits, when most sharks have five — the instant identification. San Francisco Bay is a known hotspot, and large adults patrol its deep channels hunting rays, other sharks and fish. Most sport catches are released.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Seven gill slits on each side — most sharks have five; the instant ID
- Broad, blunt, rounded snout and a heavy, powerful body
- Single dorsal fin set far back, close to the tail
- Grey to brown above with dark spots and blotches, pale below
- Small eyes and a wide mouth with comb-like lower teeth
Habits
- A top bay predator feeding on rays, sharks, bony fish and carrion
- Moves into shallow bays in spring and summer to pup
- Often hunts in small groups, unusual for a large shark
- Most active at night and on moving tides in deep channels
- Adults range widely along the coast but return to bay hotspots such as San Francisco Bay
Distribution
Where to find them
- Deep channels of San Francisco Bay
- Deep holes and pier ends in northern California bays
- Kelp and reef edges off the Oregon and Washington coasts
Where they live
How to catch them
Heavy surf and pier fishing with large cut baits Shore
Rig: Heavy surf or pier rod, conventional reel, wire or heavy mono leader and a large circle hook with a big cut bait in deep channels
Bait/lure: Large mackerel chunks, salmon heads
Key tip: Fish San Francisco Bay and deep channels on a moving tide; let the shark take the bait before setting a circle hook.
Boat fishing deep holes with mackerel and salmon baits Boat
Rig: Heavy boat rod, chum slick over a deep hole, whole mackerel or salmon bait on a wire leader
Bait/lure: Whole mackerel, salmon baits
Key tip: Mostly catch and release — use circle hooks, keep the shark in the water and release quickly.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Heavy 9-12 ft surf/pier rod or heavy boat rod
- Line: 50-80 lb braid or mono
- Terminal: Wire or 100+ lb mono leaders, 8/0-12/0 circle hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' medium-heavy surf spinning rod
≈ US$110-170
Casts plugs and bait past the breakers and handles stripers, drum and bluefish in the wash.
Reel · Best value
5000 size sealed spinning reel
≈ US$120-180
Salt spray and dunkings kill cheap reels — a sealed body and 30 lb braid capacity are the surf standard.
Terminal · Budget
Topwater plugs, soft-plastic jigs and fish-finder rigs
≈ US$25-40
Plugs for blitzes, jigs for the trough, bait on a fish-finder rig when they won't chase — the inshore trio.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m); large adults to about 10 ft (3 m) and 200 lb (91 kg)
On the table
Occasionally eaten, but most anglers release them; check local rules and mercury guidance for large sharks.
Similar species
Soupfin SharkSoupfin is a sleeker houndshark with five gills and a much larger first dorsal fin mid-body; sevengill has seven gills and a single small dorsal fin set far back
Leopard SharkLeopard shark is far smaller with bold black saddles and spots and five gills; sevengill is much larger, plain-spotted and has seven gillsRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Broadnose Sevengill Shark
Build today's plan