Sharks that can be legally retained by

recreational anglers in the Atlantic Ocean,

Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico

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.

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.

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.

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;
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 (length from
tip of snout to tip of tail); occurs primarily in inshore.

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
cusplets; both dorsal fins approximately equal in size;
body yellowish-brown in color; maximum size approximately 10 feet; occurs primarily in inshore.

Recreational vessels must possess a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charter/Headboat

permit to fish for sharks. Vessels are limited to one shark greater than 54 fork length per
day, PLUS one bonnethead and one Atlantic sharpnose shark per person per day (no size
minimum). Sharks not listed on this placard may not be landed and must be released.

Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus): snout pointed;

snout length approximately equal to 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 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;
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
shovel-shaped; sides of
body covered with numerous black spots;
maximum size approximately 4 feet; primarily
occurs inshore.

Lengths reported in fork length, except nurse shark. All species listed, except oceanic whitetip and tiger
sharks, do not have an interdorsal ridge. Teeth illustrated are the largest in upper jaw. * Similar species, indicated as easily confused with, 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 (i.e.
first dorsal fin position), however, characteristics provided are correct for the majority of individuals.
Caudal fin

Technical terms:
I. first dorsal fin II. second dorsal fin
III. caudal fin IV. pectoral fin
V. pelvic fin VI. anal fin VII. keel

snout length
caudal keel
A

mouth width

Snout shapes:
A. very pointed B. pointed C. blunt

interdorsal ridge
1

Prepared by William B. Driggers III 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 and drawings provided by NMFS, E. Hoffmayer, S. Iglsias and R. McAuley

Shark Identification

If you dont know, let it go

and Federal Regulations for the Recreational Fishery

of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Prohibited species are underlined in red
Federal fishing permit required in Federal waters | Purchase at hmspermits.noaa.gov
Authorized Species
Minimum Size (fork length)
Bag Limit (per trip)
Smoothhound shark
None
None
Atlantic sharpnose shark
None
1 per person
Bonnethead
None
1 per person
Hammerheads (great, scalloped, and smooth)
78 inches
1 per vessel (hammerhead OR other shark)
Other sharks
54 inches
snout
length

blunt

Anatomy of a Shark
first dorsal
fin

fin origin

second dorsal fin

pointed

second dorsal fin

mouth width
very pointed
head length

tooth

pectoral
anal fin
pelvic
fins
fin
fork length

caudal
fin (tail)
tail

keel

All ridgeback sharks are prohibited, except for tiger, oceanic whitetip, or smoothhound sharks
Prohibited ridgeback sharks:
bignose, Caribbean reef,
dusky, Galapagos, night,
sandbar, and silky sharks

Ridgeback sharks are sharks with an interdorsal ridge

(a visible line of raised skin between dorsal fins)
large, rounded first
dorsal fin

mottled white coloration

on tips of most fins

caudal
keel

blunt snout

Tiger shark: snout length much shorter than mouth width; markings
fade with age; max. size 15 feet; coastal and offshore
predorsal ridge

ridge

Oceanic whitetip shark: young sharks have black mottling on most

fins; does not always have interdorsal ridge; max. size 8 ft; offshore
Cannot be retained if tuna, swordfish, or billfish are onboard

There is no Federal permit requirement,

minimum size, or bag limit for spiny dogfish
white spots

spines on front of both dorsal fins

oval-shaped eyes
Smoothhound: (a.k.a. smooth dogfish and Florida/Gulf smoothhound)
predorsal ridge present; second dorsal fin slightly smaller than first dorsal
fin and much larger than anal fin; max. size 5 ft; coastal and offshore

no anal fin
Spiny dogfish: max. size 4 ft; coastal and offshore

Scalloped hammerheads, great hammerheads, and smooth hammerheads

cannot be retained if tuna, swordfish, or billfish are onboard
Pointed

Indented

Pointed

Scalloped hammerhead: max. size 11 ft;

coastal and offshore

Not pointed

Indented

Not pointed

Great hammerhead: max. size 15 ft;

coastal and offshore

No indent

Pointed

Pointed

Smooth hammerhead: max. size 12 ft;

coastal and offshore

There is no minimum size for Atlantic sharpnose sharks or bonnetheads

pointed snout

white spots, usually

shovel-shaped
head

Labial furrow
Atlantic sharpnose shark: max. size 3 ft; coastal and offshore; similar species: smalltail
sharks have very reduced labial furrows and Caribbean sharpnose sharks lack white spots

Bonnethead: small, black spots on

body; max. size 4 ft; mostly coastal

All sharks within a species are not identical; however, these are common characteristics for the majority of individuals.
Young sharks can vary in appearance from adults. Maximum sizes are approximate.
Prepared by W.B. Driggers III, E.R. Hoffmayer, J.I. Castro, K.S. Davis, M. Clark, and P. Cooper. National Marine Fisheries Service. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms.
Photographs and illustrations provided by NMFS, J. Castro, W.B. Driggers III, E.R. Hoffmayer, and S. Iglsias.

Revised January 2016

Use this key to identify non-ridgeback sharks

Single
dorsal fin

YES

NO
YES

Flattened body
NO

Blunt snout
with mouth
at tip; first
dorsal fin
above pelvic
fins

Sharpnose sevengill shark: (pictured) max. size 4 ft;

offshore deepwater; or sixgill shark (not pictured)

YES

Dark body with many

white spots; lower lobe
of tail well-developed

Atlantic angel shark: max.

size 5 ft; offshore deepwater

YES

Whale shark: max. size

45 ft; mostly offshore

NO

Orange/brown body; lower

lobe of tail poorly developed

YES

NO

First and
second
dorsal fins
nearly
same size

YES

Nurse shark: max. size

10 ft; mostly coastal

YES

Lemon shark: max. size 10 ft;

mostly coastal

NO

NO

Very long
tail (upper
lobe)

Blunt snout;
second dorsal
fin origin
directly above
anal fin origin

YES

Pointed snout; second dorsal fin

origin well in front of anal fin origin
YES

Eyes extend to top of head; distinct

grooves from above eyes to gill slits

Bigeye thresher shark: (not pictured)

max. size 8 ft; mostly offshore

YES

NO

Sand tiger: All three species of sand

tiger sharks are prohibited

NO

Gill slits very long, extending from upper head

to nearly middle of throat; teeth very small

Thresher shark: max. size

9 ft; mostly offshore
Tail lobes
(upper and
lower) nearly
same size;
very pointed
snout

YES

Single caudal
keel on each
side

YES

First dorsal fin

origin behind
pectoral fins
NO

NO

YES

Basking shark: (not pictured)

max. size 35 ft; offshore

NO

YES

Head longer
than pectoral fin

YES

NO

Longfin mako shark: (not pictured) max.

size 13 ft; offshore

Shortfin mako: max. size 12 ft;

mostly offshore

NOAA Fisheries encourages the live release

of shortfin mako and porbeagle sharks.

NO

White shark: max. size 20 ft;

coastal and offshore
Two caudal keels on each side; first dorsal
fin origin above pectoral fins; white marking
on rear edge of first dorsal fin
Upper tail
lobe
obviously
longer
than lower
lobe

YES

Midpoint of first
dorsal fin closer
to pelvic fins
than pectoral fins

YES

Porbeagle: max. size 11 ft;

mostly offshore

YES

Blue shark: bright blue coloration;

max. size 11 ft; mostly offshore

NO

Blunt snout shorter

than mouth width

YES

NO

Pointed snout

YES

Black tips on
pectoral fins
and tail

YES

NO
YES

Finetooth shark: max. size 5 ft;

mostly coastal

Grey to blue body;

teeth same in upper
and lower jaw

Black tips on
most fins
except anal
fin; snout
length same
or shorter
than mouth
width

Bull shark: max. size 9 ft; mostly

coastal, but can be offshore

YES

Blacktip shark: max. size 6 ft;

coastal and offshore

NO

NO

Black tip on
anal fin (except
Grey to yellow body; young sharks);
black marking
snout length
YES usually on tip of
same or longer
snout; teeth different than mouth
in upper & lower jaw; width; first
Blacknose shark: max. size 4 ft;
second dorsal fin
dorsal fin origin
coastal and offshore
may have markings, behind pectoral
but not other fins
fin

YES

If you dont know, let it go

All species that may be retained in Federal waters are shown on this placard | Prohibited species are underlined in red

Spinner shark: max. size 8 ft;

coastal and offshore

Shark Identification

If you dont know, let it go

and Federal Regulations for the Recreational Fishery

of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
Prohibited species are underlined in red

All ridgeback sharks are prohibited, except for tiger, oceanic whitetip, or smoothhound sharks
Ridgeback sharks are sharks with an interdorsal ridge (a visible line of raised skin between dorsal fins)
Prohibited ridgeback sharks:
bignose, Caribbean reef, dusky, Galapagos, night,
sandbar, and silky sharks
large, rounded first
dorsal fin

caudal
keel

blunt snout

mottled white coloration

on tips of most fins
Oceanic whitetip shark: young sharks have black mottling on most
fins; does not always have interdorsal ridge; max. size 8 ft; offshore
Cannot be retained if tuna, swordfish, or billfish are onboard

Tiger shark: snout length much shorter than mouth width; markings
fade with age; max. size 15 feet; coastal and offshore

There is no Federal permit requirement, minimum size, or bag limit for smoothhound or spiny dogfish
oval-shaped
eyes

ridge

spines on front of both dorsal fins

white spots

ridge

no anal fin
Smoothhound: second dorsal fin slightly smaller than first dorsal fin
and much larger than anal fin; max. size 5 ft; coastal and offshore

Spiny dogfish: max. size 4 ft; coastal and offshore

Scalloped hammerheads, great hammerheads, and smooth hammerheads

cannot be retained if tuna, swordfish, or billfish are onboard
Pointed

Indented

Pointed

Not pointed

Scalloped hammerhead: max. size 11 ft;

coastal and offshore

Indented

Not pointed

No indentation

Pointed

Great hammerhead: max. size 15 ft;

coastal and offshore

Pointed

Smooth hammerhead: max. size 12 ft;

coastal and offshore

There is no minimum size for Atlantic sharpnose sharks or bonnetheads

white spots, usually

pointed snout

shovel-shaped
head

Labial furrow
Atlantic sharpnose shark: max. size 3 ft; coastal and offshore; similar species: smalltail
sharks have very reduced labial furrows and Caribbean sharpnose sharks lack white spots

Bonnethead: small, black spots on

body; max. size 4 ft; mostly coastal

Authorized Species

Minimum Size (fork length)

Bag Limit (per trip)

Atlantic sharpnose shark

Bonnethead
Hammerheads (great, scalloped, and smooth)
Other sharks

None
None
78 inches
54 inches

1 per person
1 per person

Anatomy of a Shark

blunt
first dorsal
fin

snout
length

1 per vessel (hammerhead OR other shark)

fin origin

second dorsal fin

pointed
mouth width
very pointed
tooth

head length

pectoral
anal fin
pelvic
fins
fin

caudal
fin (tail)

second dorsal fin

fork length

keel

All sharks within a species are not identical; however, these are common characteristics for the majority of individuals.
Young sharks can vary in appearance from adults. Maximum sizes are approximate.
Prepared by W.B. Driggers III, E.R. Hoffmayer, J.I. Castro, K.S. Davis, M. Clark, and P. Cooper. National Marine Fisheries Service. http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms.
Photographs and illustrations provided by NMFS, J. Castro, W.B. Driggers III, E.R. Hoffmayer, and S. Iglsias.

Revised February 2014

tail

Use this key to identify non-ridgeback sharks

Single
dorsal fin

YES

NO
YES

Flattened body
NO

Blunt snout
with mouth
at tip; first
dorsal fin
above pelvic
fins

Sharpnose sevengill shark: (pictured) max. size 4 ft;

offshore deepwater; or sixgill shark (not pictured)

YES

Dark body with many

white spots; lower lobe
of tail well-developed

Atlantic angel shark: max.

size 5 ft; offshore deepwater

YES

Whale shark: max. size

45 ft; mostly offshore

NO

Orange/brown body; lower

lobe of tail poorly developed

YES

NO

First and
second
dorsal fins
nearly
same size

YES

Nurse shark: max. size

10 ft; mostly coastal

YES

Lemon shark: max. size 10 ft;

mostly coastal

NO

NO

Very long
tail (upper
lobe)

Blunt snout;
second dorsal
fin origin
directly above
anal fin origin

YES

Pointed snout; second dorsal fin

origin well in front of anal fin origin
YES

Eyes extend to top of head; distinct

grooves from above eyes to gill slits

Bigeye thresher shark: (not pictured)

max. size 8 ft; mostly offshore

YES

NO

Sand tiger: All three species of sand

tiger sharks are prohibited

NO

Gill slits very long, extending from upper head

to nearly middle of throat; teeth very small

Thresher shark: max. size

9 ft; mostly offshore
Tail lobes
(upper and
lower) nearly
same size;
very pointed
snout

YES

Single caudal
keel on each
side

YES

First dorsal fin

origin behind
pectoral fins
NO

NO

YES

Basking shark: (not pictured)

max. size 35 ft; offshore

NO

YES

Head longer
than pectoral fin

YES

NO

Longfin mako shark: (not pictured) max.

size 13 ft; offshore

Shortfin mako: max. size 12 ft;

mostly offshore

NOAA Fisheries encourages the live release

of shortfin mako and porbeagle sharks.

NO

White shark: max. size 20 ft;

coastal and offshore
Two caudal keels on each side; first dorsal
fin origin above pectoral fins; white marking
on rear edge of first dorsal fin
Upper tail
lobe
obviously
longer
than lower
lobe

YES

Midpoint of first
dorsal fin closer
to pelvic fins
than pectoral fins

YES

Porbeagle: max. size 11 ft;

mostly offshore

YES

Blue shark: bright blue coloration;

max. size 11 ft; mostly offshore

NO

Blunt snout shorter

than mouth width

YES

NO

Pointed snout

YES

Black tips on
pectoral fins
and tail

YES

NO
YES

Finetooth shark: max. size 5 ft;

mostly coastal

Grey to blue body;

teeth same in upper
and lower jaw

Black tips on
most fins
except anal
fin; snout
length same
or shorter
than mouth
width

Bull shark: max. size 9 ft; mostly

coastal, but can be offshore

YES

Blacktip shark: max. size 6 ft;

coastal and offshore

NO

NO

Black tip on
anal fin (except
Grey to yellow body; young sharks);
black marking
snout length
YES usually on tip of
same or longer
snout; teeth different than mouth
in upper & lower jaw; width; first
Blacknose shark: max. size 4 ft;
second dorsal fin
dorsal fin origin
coastal and offshore
may have markings, behind pectoral
but not other fins
fin

YES

If you dont know, let it go

All species that may be retained in Federal waters are shown on this placard | Prohibited species are underlined in red

Spinner shark: max. size 8 ft;

coastal and offshore