Managed shark species that can be legally 

retained by recreational anglers in the 

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico 

Recreational vessels must possess a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat permit to fish for 

sharks in federal waters. Vessels are limited to one shark greater than 54” fork length per trip, PLUS one 

bonnethead and one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per trip (no size minimum). There is no size 

limit or bag limit for smooth and spiny dogfish. There are currently no Federal recreational management 

measures for or Federal recreational permits needed to retain smooth or spiny dogfish. Anglers may need 

to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry (https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov) 

Porbeagle (Lamna nasus): snout very pointed; teeth with 

cusplets; edges of teeth smooth; head length greater than pectoral 

fin length; first dorsal fin above pectoral fins; distinct white 

marking rear edge of first dorsal fin; caudal fin with two keels; 

maximum size approximately 11 feet; occurs primarily offshore. 

Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus): snout very pointed; teeth without 

cusplets; edges of teeth smooth; head length greater than pectoral fin 

length*; underside of head white*; first dorsal fin behind pectoral fins; 

caudal fin with a single keel; maximum size approximately 12 feet; 

occurs primarily offshore; easily confused with the longfin mako 

(Isurus paucus), which is prohibited. NMFS encourages the live release 

of shortfin makos. 

Blue shark (Prionace glauca): snout pointed; snout length 

longer than mouth width; midpoint of first dorsal fin closer to 

pelvic fins than pectoral fins; top of body with brilliant blue 

coloration; maximum size approximately 11 feet; occurs 

primarily offshore. 

Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus): snout pointed 

to blunt; first dorsal fin large and rounded at tip; tips of most fins 

with distinct, mottled white coloration+

; maximum size 

approximately 10 feet; occurs primarily offshore. 

Thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus): snout pointed to blunt; eye sockets are 

circular and do not extend onto top of head*; top of head does not have 

deep grooves extending from eyes to pectoral fins*; first dorsal fin does not 

extend to pelvic fins*; caudal fin greatly elongated; maximum size 

approximately 9 feet; occurs primarily offshore; easily confused with the 

bigeye thresher (Alopias superciliosus), which is prohibited. 

Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris): snout blunt; snout length shorter than 

mouth width; teeth without cusps; both dorsal fins approximately equal in size; 

body yellowish-brown in color; maximum size approximately 10 feet; occurs 

primarily inshore. 

Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier): snout blunt; snout length 

much shorter than mouth width; caudal fin with a single keel; 

body covered with dark bars, spots or patches that fade with 

age; maximum size approximately 17 feet; occurs inshore and 

offshore. 

Nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum): snout 

blunt; mouth at tip of snout; eyes very small; first 

dorsal fin above pelvic fins; lower lobe of caudal 

fin poorly developed; body is orange to brown in 

color; maximum size approximately 10 feet (from 

tip of snout to tip of tail); occurs primarily 

inshore. 

If you don’t know, let it go. 

Some sharks not listed on this placard are prohibited, may not be landed, and must be released. 

For a more complete list of species and species complexes, please visit 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ 

For further information and more detailed species accounts see the Guide to Sharks, Tunas & Billfishes of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. 

2003. Edited by Margo Schulze-Haugen, Tony Corey, and Nancy E. Kohler. A joint publication of Rhode Island Sea Grant & NOAA Fisheries. 
Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus): snout pointed; snout 

length approximately equal to or less than mouth width; first dorsal 

fin over pectoral fins; anal fin does not have black tip; maximum 

size approximately 6 feet; occurs inshore and offshore. 

Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna): snout pointed; snout length 

approximately equal to or greater than mouth width; first dorsal fin 

originates behind pectoral fins; anal fin has distinct black tip+; 

maximum size approximately 7 feet; occurs inshore and offshore. 

Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas): snout blunt; snout length much 

shorter than mouth width; first dorsal fin above pectoral fins; 

maximum size approximately 9 feet; occurs primarily inshore but 

not uncommon offshore. 

Finetooth shark (Carcharhinus isodon): snout pointed; teeth are 

needle-like and similar in upper and lower jaw; edges of teeth smooth; 

gill slits noticeably long; all fins lack distinct markings; body blue to 

grey in color; maximum size approximately 5 feet; occurs primarily 

inshore. 

Blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus): snout pointed; tip of 

snout usually has distinct black marking; first dorsal fin behind 

pectoral fins; fins lack distinct marking with possible exception of 

second dorsal fin; body grey to yellow in color; maximum size 

approximately 4 feet; occurs inshore and offshore. 

Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae): snout 

pointed; first dorsal fin behind pectoral fins; second dorsal fin 

originates over midpoint of anal fin; body usually with several to 

many conspicuous white spots except for very small individuals; 

maximum size approximately 3 feet; occurs inshore and offshore. 

 Scalloped hammerhead 

(Sphyrna lewini): front of head with 

a central indentation; sides of head 

project past front of head; maximum 

size approximately 11 feet; occurs 

inshore and offshore. 

 Great hammerhead 

(Sphyrna mokarran): front of head 

with a central indentation+

; sides of 

head do not project past front of 

head; maximum size approximately 

15 feet; occurs inshore and offshore. 

 Smooth hammerhead 

(Sphyrna zygaena): front of head without 

a central indentation; sides of head 

project past front of head; maximum size 

approximately 12 feet; occurs inshore 

and offshore. 

 Bonnethead 

(Sphyrna tiburo): head shovelshaped; sides of body covered 

with numerous black spots; 

maximum size approximately 4 

feet; primarily occurs inshore. 

Prepared by William B. Driggers III 1 and Eric R. Hoffmayer 2 

1. National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories 

2. University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory 

Photographs provided by NMFS, E. Hoffmayer and S. Iglésias 

I. first dorsal fin II. second dorsal fin III. caudal fin 

IV. pectoral fin V. pelvic fin VI. anal fin 

VII. keel VIII. secondary keel 

A B C 

Snout shapes: 

A. very pointed B. pointed C. blunt 

snout length 

interdorsal ridge 

Technical terms: 

All lengths reported in fork length, except for nurse shark. All species listed, except oceanic whitetip, smooth dogfish and tiger sharks, 

do not have an interdorsal ridge. Teeth illustrated are the largest in upper jaw. * Similar species will not share characteristics listed in 

italics. + characteristic does not apply to some individuals less than 54” fork length. All sharks of a given species are not identical in 

appearance (e.g. first dorsal fin position), however, characteristics provided are correct for the majority of individuals. 

caudal keel 

caudal fin 

Smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis): oval-shaped eyes; teeth blunt; 

interdorsal ridge present; second dorsal fin slightly smaller than first 

dorsal fin and significantly larger than anal fin; maximum size 

approximately 5 feet; occurs inshore and offshore. 

Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias): large spines present on the front 

of the first and second dorsal fins; anal fin absent; white spots on 

sides of body*; maximum size approximately 4 feet; occurs 

inshore and offshore. This species is jointly managed by the New 

England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils. 

Head length 

Fork length 

I II III 

IV V VI VII 

mouth width 

cusplet 

cusp 

second dorsal fin 

Revised: July 2010 

VIII