Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
Also called Whitetip shark.
How to tell it
Huge rounded pectoral and first dorsal fins with mottled white tips; stocky, blue-water shark that comes to the boat.
- Not a silky shark? That one narrow pointed fins, no white tips. (Silky Shark)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Harvest prohibited | Zero | Closed year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Connecticut | Take prohibited | 0 | Closed year-roundCT DEEP 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Delaware | Harvest prohibited | 0 | No harvest permittedDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Florida (Gulf) | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Georgia | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Louisiana | No harvest | See note | Closed year-roundLDWF 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| Maine | Take prohibited | No harvest or possession | Closed year-roundME DMR 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Maryland | No take | 0 | ClosedMD DNR 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Massachusetts | N/A | No possession | Closed year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Mississippi | No take | See note | Closed year-roundMS DMR 2026 · likely · checked | Check |
| New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| New Jersey | Prohibited | 0 | No open seasonNJ DEP 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| New York | No possession | 0 | Closed all yearNY DEC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| North Carolina | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Rhode Island | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| South Carolina | No harvest | Possession prohibited | Closed year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Texas | No harvest | 0 | Closed year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| Virginia | No harvest | 0 | ClosedVMRC 2026 · checked | Put it back |
On the table
Not a food fish here — harvest prohibited.
In the app
Point the camera at a oceanic whitetip 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 oceanic whitetip shark
What is the size limit for oceanic whitetip shark?
It depends on the state. Louisiana: No harvest; Mississippi: No take.
How many oceanic whitetip shark can you keep?
Louisiana: See note; Mississippi: See note.
Where is oceanic whitetip shark harvest prohibited?
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia. Release it there.
How do you tell oceanic whitetip shark from silky shark?
Oceanic Whitetip Shark has this: Huge rounded pectoral and first dorsal fins with mottled white tips; stocky, blue-water shark that comes to the boat.. Silky Shark narrow pointed fins, no white tips.