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Abstract Background Most information on shortfin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the eastern North Pacific (ENP) currently comes from fisheries data and short-term tracking studies. Although range has been inferred from catch and conventional tag data, little is known about the migration patterns and behavior in the ENP. This long-term electronic tagging study was designed to examine in detail the movement patterns and behavior of mako sharks in the ENP. Results In this study, a total of 105 mako sharks (104–280 cm fork length) were successfully tagged in the California Current between 2002 and 2014 with Argos satellite tags, including 93 satellite-linked radio-transmitting (SLRT) tags and 71 pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs). This included 29 males that are in the size range of maturity, but only one mature female. Mean track durations from SLRT data were 337 days (max 1025), and PSAT tags were 136 days (max 272). Estimated minimum distance traveled in 1 year ranged from 6945 to 18,800 km/year. Habitats utilized included the entire California Current, the Sea of Cortez and offshore in the areas of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, North Pacific Transition Zone and North Equatorial Current. Seasonal movements within the California Current coincided with periods of higher primary productivity and chlorophyll a, and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) between 15 and 25 °C. SST ranged from 11 to 31 °C throughout the range, indicating a broad thermal tolerance. Conclusions Some of the key findings include the discovery of a high degree of variability between individuals in their vertical and horizontal movements, a strong influence of body size and season on mako shark movements, and the repetitive use of certain areas by individuals. These results expand our understanding of the distribution of mako sharks in the ENP. Although mako sharks are thought to comprise a single stock throughout the North Pacific, horizontal distribution of tagged mako sharks in this study was limited to the ENP demonstrating some spatial substructure. This study provides important data that can be used to identify fishery and gear vulnerabilities and inform management.