Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
How to tell it
Black-tipped fins but a plain (unmarked) anal fin; pointed snout; Z-shaped lateral line.
- Not a spinner shark? That one black tip ON the anal fin, longer snout. (Spinner Shark)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 54 in fork length minimum | 1 per person per day | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Connecticut | 54" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 54 in FL min | 1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler) | Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31DE 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 | 54 in fork length | 1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewer | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 54" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 54 in FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day | Open year-round except May 15-Jul 15MD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | 54" min | 1 shark per trip (aggregate) | Open year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | 37 in total length minimum | 1 per person per day (max 3 per vessel) | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 54" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 54 in FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31NJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | 54" FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 54" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | 54" FL min | 1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/day | Open year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 54 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | 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 | 54 in FL min | 1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined) | Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15VMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 152.13 lb | 1987 · Sebastian | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 148 lb | 2008 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Maryland | 193 lb | 1991 · Ocean City | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 98 lb 9.6 oz | 2005 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 163 lb 14 oz | 2009 · Hilton Head | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 190 lb | 2003 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 76 lb 10 oz | 1988 · Off Virginia Beach | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Good when bled immediately.
In the app
Point the camera at a blacktip 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 blacktip shark
What is the size limit for blacktip shark?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 54 in fork length minimum; Connecticut: 54" FL min; Delaware: 54 in FL min; Georgia: 54 in fork length; Maine: 54" FL min; Maryland: 54 in FL; Massachusetts: 54" min; Mississippi: 37 in total length minimum; and more in the table above.
How many blacktip shark can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person per day; Connecticut: 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined; Delaware: 1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler); 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 or boat, whichever is fewer; Maine: 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined; Maryland: 1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day; and more in the table above.
When is blacktip shark season?
Delaware: Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31; Maryland: Open year-round except May 15-Jul 15; New Jersey: Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31; Virginia: Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15.
How do you tell blacktip shark from spinner shark?
Blacktip Shark has this: Black-tipped fins but a plain (unmarked) anal fin; pointed snout; Z-shaped lateral line.. Spinner Shark black tip ON the anal fin, longer snout.
What is the record blacktip shark?
193 lb in Maryland (1991), Ocean City. Other states’ records are in the table.