Porbeagle
Lamna nasus
How to tell it
Stocky cold-water mako cousin — white patch on the first dorsal's rear tip and a second small tail keel.
- Not a shortfin mako? That one no white dorsal patch, single keel. (Shortfin Mako)
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 · likely · 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 · likely · checked | Open |
| Maine | No state size limit | No bag limit | Open year-round unless the federal porbeagle quota is reachedME 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 · likely · 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 · likely · 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 | 191 lb | 2013 · Ryan's Horn | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 · Exotic Marine Species Category (Harvested) |
| Maine | 548 lb | 1995 · Bailey Island | Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Massachusetts | 495 lb | 2011 · Martha's Vineyard | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 393 lb | 2014 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Good meat, but check the current retention rule before keeping anything.
In the app
Point the camera at a porbeagle 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 porbeagle
What is the size limit for porbeagle?
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 porbeagle 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.
How do you tell porbeagle from shortfin mako?
Porbeagle has this: Stocky cold-water mako cousin — white patch on the first dorsal's rear tip and a second small tail keel.. Shortfin Mako no white dorsal patch, single keel.
What is the record porbeagle?
548 lb in Maine (1995), Bailey Island. Other states’ records are in the table.