Common Thresher
Alopias vulpinus
Also called Thresher, Whiptail.
How to tell it
The tail's upper lobe is as long as the body — the whip is the whole ID.
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 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 54 in FL min | 1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler) | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 54 in fork length min | 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | 54 in fork length min | 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 | 54 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maine | No state size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundME DMR 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 54 in FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day | Open year-roundMD 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 Hampshire | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 54 in FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNJ 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 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · 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 | 64 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-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 467 lb | 2006 · Montauk Point | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 544.5 lb | 1994 · Destin | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 116 lb | 1976 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Maine | 425 lb | 1998 · Boothbay Harbor | Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 642 lb | 2009 · The Fingers | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Massachusetts | 630 lb | 2011 · Martha's Vineyard | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New Jersey | 683 lb | 2009 · Fingers | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 707 lb | 2023 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 589 lb 1 oz | 2023 · Off Oak Island | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Texas | 333 lb | 2002 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 525 lb | 2004 · Triangle Wrecks | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Good firm steaks — bleed it quickly.
In the app
Point the camera at a common thresher 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 common thresher
What is the size limit for common thresher?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 54 in fork length minimum; Connecticut: 54 in fork length; Delaware: 54 in FL min; Florida (Atlantic): 54 in fork length min; Florida (Gulf): 54 in fork length min; Georgia: 54 in fork length; Louisiana: 54 in fork length; Maine: No state size limit; and more in the table above.
How many common thresher can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person per day; Connecticut: 1 shark per vessel per trip; 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; Louisiana: 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate; Maryland: 1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day; and more in the table above.
What is the record common thresher?
707 lb in New York (2023). Other states’ records are in the table.