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Species · Sharks

Finetooth Shark

Carcharhinus isodon

Rules in 19 state rulebooks, checked Sep 16, 2026. Every rule names its source and the day it was last checked; the official rulebook is the final word.

Finetooth Shark
Drawing: NOAA Fisheries

How to tell it

Slender gray, long gill slits, needle-fine teeth.

Rules for

Every state

StateSizeBagSeasonToday
Alabama54 in fork length minimum1 per person per dayOpen year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked Open
Connecticut54" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked Open
DelawareNo size limit1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler)Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked Open
Florida (Atlantic)No size limit1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vesselOpen year-roundFWC 2026 · checked Open
Florida (Gulf)No size limit1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vesselOpen year-roundFWC 2026 · checked Open
Georgia54 in fork length1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewerOpen year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked Open
Louisiana54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregateOpen year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked Open
MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)54" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked Open
Maryland54 in FL1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per dayOpen year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked Open
MassachusettsNo size limit1 shark per trip (aggregate)Open year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked Open
Mississippi25 in total length minimum4 per person per dayOpen year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked Open
New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)54" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked Open
New Jersey54 in FL min1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundNJ DEP 2026 · likely · checked Open
New YorkNo size limit1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked Open
North CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)54" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked Open
Rhode IslandNo size limit1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/dayOpen year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked Open
South Carolina54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked Open
Texas64 in total length1 (all sharks combined, any combination)Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked Open
VirginiaNo size limit1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked Open

State records

StateWeightWhen, whereSource
Mississippi46 lb 10.4 oz2017MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23
Texas100.5 lb1979 · Gulf of AmericaTPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23

On the table

Good bled fast — when one is ever legal.

In the app

Point the camera at a finetooth 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.

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Questions anglers ask about finetooth shark

What is the size limit for finetooth shark?

It depends on the state. Alabama: 54 in fork length minimum; Connecticut: 54" FL min; Georgia: 54 in fork length; Louisiana: 54 in fork length; Maine: 54" FL min; Maryland: 54 in FL; Mississippi: 25 in total length minimum; New Hampshire: 54" FL min; and more in the table above.

How many finetooth 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; Louisiana: 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate; Maine: 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined; and more in the table above.

What is the record finetooth shark?

100.5 lb in Texas (1979), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.