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It inhabits cool temperate waters of the North Atlantic from South Carolina to Newfoundland, and from North Africa to Norway and Iceland. If also inhabits the Mediterranean Sea and the cool temperate waters of the Southern Pacific.

A pelagic, oceanic shark, it has nevertheless been found near shore on occasions. It is of the same family as the great white and the mako sharks and they resemble each other. The snout is perfectly conical and ends in a point. It is easily distinguished from other sharks by its teeth, which are smooth and have little cusps on each side of the base.

It has a small secondary keel that the white and mako sharks lack. The smaller keel is located beneath the main keel but farther back on the tail. The first dorsal fin is farther forward than on the mako or white sharks. Its anal fin is directly beneath the second dorsal fin, whereas the mako's anal fin originates near the midpoint of the second dorsal fin. It has a distinguishing white patch on the free-trailing base portion of the first dorsal fin.

It follows the migrations of mackerels, herring, cod, bonitos, etc., which is the reason it is often called mackerel shark, bonito shark, herring shark, etc. It also eats squid, flounder, hake and dogfish. Though anglers may prefer the mako for its spectacular acrobatics or the white shark for its great size and strength, the porbeagle is reported to be an excellent sport fish and may leap when hooked.

The flesh is of good quality and texture and is said to taste somewhat like swordfish Fishing methods include trolling or bait fishing while chumming. Baits include mackerel, herring, bonito, squid and other fishes. The porbeagle inhabits colder waters than its relatives, which may partly account for the fact that there are no recorded instances of it ever attacking humans or boats. It is warm-blooded and ovoviviparous, though it has fewer babies, up to four measuring 19 1/2 in (50 cm) long at birth.