Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
How to tell it
Small (under 4 ft), white spots on gray back, long labial furrows at the mouth corners.
Often mistaken for
One fish that gets called Atlantic sharpnose shark, and what gives it away.
- Blacktip shark: Larger, black-tipped fins, no white spots. Tell them apart
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | 1 per person per day | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Connecticut | No size limit | 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit) | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | No size limit | 1 additional per angler beyond shark aggregate | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Georgia | 30 in fork length | 1 per angler per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | No size limit | 1 per person per trip | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit) | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | 1 per angler per day (in addition to the 1-shark aggregate) | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | No size limit | 1 in shark aggregate plus 1 additional per trip | Open year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 25 in total length minimum | 4 per person per day | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit) | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | No size limit | 1 per person per trip | Open year-roundNJ DEP 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| New York | No size limit | 1 additional per angler per trip | Open year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit) | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | No size limit | 1/person/day in addition to the coastal shark bag | Open year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | No size limit | 1 per person per day | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 24 in total length | 1 (all sharks combined, any combination) | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | No size limit | 1 per person per trip (in addition to shark vessel limit) | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16 lb 3 oz | 2006 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Mississippi | 15 lb 4.6 oz | 2013 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 13 lb 5 oz | 2009 · Murrell’s Inlet | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 18.1 lb | 2022 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
How anglers catch it
The small shark that takes every cut bait in the surf and on the nearshore bottom.
On the table
Good if bled and iced the moment it hits the deck.
In the app
Point the camera at an Atlantic sharpnose shark and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about Atlantic sharpnose shark
What is the size limit for Atlantic sharpnose shark?
It depends on the state. Georgia: 30 in fork length; Mississippi: 25 in total length minimum; Texas: 24 in total length.
How many Atlantic sharpnose shark can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person per day; Connecticut: 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit); Delaware: 1 additional per angler beyond shark aggregate; Florida (Atlantic): 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel; Florida (Gulf): 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel; Georgia: 1 per angler per day; Louisiana: 1 per person per trip; Maine: 1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit); and more in the table above.
How do you tell Atlantic sharpnose shark from blacktip shark?
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark: Small (under 4 ft), white spots on gray back, long labial furrows at the mouth corners. Blacktip shark: larger, black-tipped fins, no white spots.
How do you catch Atlantic sharpnose shark?
The small shark that takes every cut bait in the surf and on the nearshore bottom. Methods: bottom, drifting. Baits: shrimp, cut bait, squid.
What is the record Atlantic sharpnose shark?
18.1 lb in Texas (2022), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.