Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
How to tell it
Barbels, tiny mouth, rounded fins; naps under ledges.
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) | 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 |
| 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 | 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-round except May 15 - Jul 15VMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 244 lb | 1981 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Mississippi | 98 lb 7 oz | 2006 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 148.5 lb | 1998 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Rarely kept; bleed immediately if so.
In the app
Point the camera at a nurse 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 nurse shark
What is the size limit for nurse shark?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 54 in fork length minimum; Connecticut: 54" FL min; 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: 54" FL min; and more in the table above.
How many nurse 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.
When is nurse 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.
What is the record nurse shark?
244 lb in Georgia (1981). Other states’ records are in the table.