Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation

Sharks

Facebook

Google

Twitter Email More Print

Brought to you by:

It is Illegal:

For an angler to use any gear other than handlines or rod & reel. Spear guns, spears, and bows and arrows are specifically prohibited for shark fishing.
For an angler to sell, barter, or trade sharks or shark parts.
For an angler to engage in shark finning. All sharks caught by an angler must have heads, tails and fins attached naturally to the carcass through landing.
To fillet sharks at sea.
To harvest any shark species not listed on the table.
For a Highly migratory species (HMS) Angling, Charter/headboat, and General Category (if participating in a registered Atlantic HMS tournament) permit holder to possess hammerhead sharks (great, smooth, or scalloped) or oceanic whitetip sharks simultaneously with billfish, tunas, or swordfish.

Gear Restrictions

Anglers may use only handlines or rod & reel.

SEASON, HARVEST RESTRICTIONS, MINIMUM SIZE & DAILY CREEL/POSSESSION LIMITS
Shark Species Approved for Recreational Harvest	Closed season	minimum fork length	Daily Creel Shore* (per angler)	Daily Creel Vessel* (per trip)
Atlantic sharpnose shark Blacknose shark Bonnethead shark Finetooth shark Smooth dogfish Spiny dogfish	None	None	Each recreational shore angler is allowed a maximum of 1 shark per calendar day from this list of approved species. In addition, each recreational shore angler may harvest 1 of each of the following species per calendar day: 1. Bonnethead 2. Atlantic sharpnose shark 3. Smooth dogfish	Each recreational vessel is allowed a maximum of 1 shark per trip from this list of approved species. In addition, each recreational vessel may harvest 1 of each of the following species per trip: 1. Bonnethead 2. Atlantic sharpnose shark 3. Smooth dogfish
Blue shark Common thresher shark Oceanic whitetip shark Porbeagle shark Shortfin mako shark	None	54 inches
Blacktip shark Bull shark Hammerhead shark, great. Hammerhead shark, scalloped. Hammerhead shark, smooth. Lemon shark Nurse shark Spinner shark Tiger shark	May 15–July 15	54 inches
*Sharks that are transported by a vessel are considered boat assisted, and regulated under the more restrictive vessel-fishing possession limits regardless of where they were caught. Prohibited Species: All species not listed in the above table are prohibited.

Shark Identification —

www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/education/sharkkey/sharkkeynew.htm

Regulations in red are new this year.

Purple text indicates an important note.

Most Read Pages

Brought to you by:

Conservation Partner Advertisements: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources allows appropriate advertising in its annual regulation guides in print and online, in order to defray or eliminate expenses to the state, and support enhanced communications with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Constituents. Through a unique partnership with J.F.Griffin Publishing, LLC & eRegulations.com, ‘Conservation Partners’ have been established that pay for advertising in support of the regulations both in print and online. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources neither endorses products or services listed or claims made; nor accepts any liability arising from the use of products or services listed. Advertisers interested in the Conservation Partners program should contact J.F.Griffin/eRegulations.com directly at 413-884-1001,

J.F. Griffin Media reaches 9,000,000 sportsmen every year through our print and digital publications. We produce 30 hunting and fishing regulation guides for 15 state agencies. For advertising information, please visit: www.jfgriffin.com