Business & Tech

Shark the Other Other White Meat; Shark Week Dinner Specials

Cook up some local shark for Shark Week. El Pescador in La Jolla sells mako and thresher shark by the pound.

Written by Kyle Lundberg

There may be no better way to celebrate Shark Week than watching with a plateful of local shark and a cold local beer (Port Brewing Co's Shark Attack, of course) with other shark enthusiasts.

El Pescador, a fish market in La Jolla, sells mako and thresher shark for $10.95/pound.

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According to Andy Anseth, an assistant manager at El Pescador, shark has a taste and texture similar to a swordfish, only softer, with a grainier texture.

“Shark is like the rib eye from the ocean,” he said.

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Shark meat is often used to make tacos, sandwiches or fillets.

Mako sharks come in short and long fin forms, and average 9 to 15 feet in length. 

Thresher sharks are known for their long tail fins. They can run from 10 to 20 feet in length.

According to Anseth, thresher sharks are especially plentiful in the area, and are an important part of the local ecosystem. El Pescador buys all their sharks from local fishermen, who avoid overfishing to ensure the population stays stable.

“[Sharks are] really smart creatures,” he said. “Really pretty and powerful. Fortunately, for us, they’re a good food source as well.”

Shark Week, which started Sunday, Aug. 4, is broadcast every year on the Discovery Channel. It features a week’s worth of shark-centered programming, including numerous documentaries and educational programs. Now in its 26th season, the event brings in more than 20 million viewers each year.

El Pescador is located at 627 Pearl Street in La Jolla. When you stop in, ask them how to best cook up your shark dinner.


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