Sharks and Prohibited Species

Issued: January 2025
New regulations are highlighted in red
(please visit: MyFWC.com/Fishing/Saltwater/Recreational for the most current regulations)

Regulations apply to state waters of the Gulf and Atlantic
State waters extend 9 miles from shore on the Gulf and 3 miles from shore on the Atlantic coast.

« Spearing Prohibited.

p Must remain in whole condition (removal of gills and guts allowed).

u Measured as total length. Total length is the straight line distance from the most forward part of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is lying on its side.

n State regulations apply in federal waters.

l Additional gear rules apply, please see: MyFWC.com

T Harvest prohibited by or with the use of any multiple hook (any hook with two or more points and a common shaft) in conjunction with live or dead natural bait.

X State Reef Fish Angler designation required when fishing for select reef fish species from a private vessel in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean.

Retainable Sharks with a 54" fork length minimum p« T

Blue, porbeagle (not illustrated).

Daily Recreational Bag Limit:

• 1 per harvester or 2 per vessel per day, whichever is less.

Remarks

• The retainable sharks are managed as a group for bag limit purposes. In other words, you can only harvest one shark per day and the shark that you harvest must be one of the retainable species.
• Hook-and-line gear only.
• Shore-based Shark Fishing educational course and permit required.
• See list of prohibited species below.

Retainable Sharks with no minimum size limit « T p

Finetooth, Smooth Dogfish, Florida and Gulf Smoothhounds (not illustrated).

All art: © Diane Rome Peebles, except blueline tilefish and golden tilefish (Duane Raver); lionfish (FWC)