PorbeagleorShortfin Mako
Two fish anglers mix up. Here is what separates them, and what each one’s rules are in your state.
How to tell them apart
Porbeagle
Stocky cold-water mako cousin — white patch on the first dorsal's rear tip and a second small tail keel.
Shortfin Mako
Metallic indigo back, conical snout, dagger teeth; the fastest shark.
Shortfin mako, next to porbeagle: no white dorsal patch, single keel.
Side by side
| Porbeagle | Shortfin Mako | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lamna nasus | Isurus oxyrinchus |
| Also called | — | — |
| Waters | Sharks | Sharks |
| Heaviest state record | 548 lb · Maine (1995) | 1324 lb · Massachusetts (1999) |
| On the table | Good meat, but check the current retention rule before keeping anything. | Off the menu while the ban holds. |
| Rules of its own in | 19 states | 19 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 18 of 19 states with a rule for either. In Alabama, porbeagle is 54 in fork length minimum, 1 per person per day and shortfin mako is Harvest prohibited, Zero. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Porbeagle: size · bag · season | Shortfin Mako: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 54 in fork length minimum1 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · likely · checked | Harvest prohibitedZeroClosed year-roundPut it backAL MRD 2026 · checked |
| Connecticut | 54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenNOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked | Take prohibited0Closed year-roundPut it backCT DEEP 2026 · likely · checked |
| Delaware | 54 in FL min1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler)Open year-roundOpenDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Harvest prohibited0No harvest permittedPut it backDE DNREC 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Atlantic) | 54 in fork length min1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vesselOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · checked | No harvestNo harvestClosed year-roundPut it backFWC 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | 54 in fork length min1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vesselOpen year-roundOpenFWC 2026 · checked | No harvestNo harvestClosed year-roundPut it backFWC 2026 · checked |
| Georgia | 54 in fork length1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewerOpen year-roundOpenGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | 83 in fork length1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewerOnly when federal quota is openClosedGA DNR CRD 2026 · likely · checked |
| Louisiana | 54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregateOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · likely · checked | No harvestNo harvest or possessionClosed year-roundPut it backLDWF 2026 · checked |
| Maine | No state size limitNo bag limitOpen year-round unless the federal porbeagle quota is reachedOpenME DMR 2026 · likely · checked | Take prohibitedNo harvest or possessionClosed year-roundPut it backME DMR 2026 · checked |
| Maryland | 54 in FL1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per dayOpen year-roundOpenMD DNR 2026 · checked | No take0ClosedPut it backMD DNR 2026 · checked |
| Massachusetts | 54" min1 shark per trip (aggregate)Open year-roundOpenMA DMF 2026 · checked | N/ANo possessionClosed year-roundPut it backMA DMF 2026 · checked |
| Mississippi | 37 in total length minimum1 per person per day (max 3 per vessel)Open year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked | 37 in total length minimum1 per person per day (max 3 per vessel)Open year-roundOpenMS DMR 2026 · checked |
| New Hampshire | No size limitNo bag limitOpen year-roundOpenNH F&G 2026 · checked | Possession prohibitedPossession prohibitedClosed year-roundPut it backNH F&G 2026 · checked |
| New Jersey | 54 in FL min1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenNJ DEP 2026 · likely · checked | Prohibited0No open seasonPut it backNJ DEP 2026 · checked |
| New York | 54" FL1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenNY DEC 2026 · checked | No possession0Closed all yearPut it backNY DEC 2026 · checked |
| North Carolina | 54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2025 · checked | N/ANo harvest or possessionClosed year-roundPut it backNC DMF 2026 · checked |
| Rhode Island | 54" FL min1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/dayOpen year-roundOpenRI DEM 2026 · checked | N/ANo harvest or possessionClosed year-roundPut it backRI DEM 2026 · checked |
| South Carolina | 54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked | No harvestPossession prohibitedClosed year-roundPut it backSC DNR 2026 · checked |
| Texas | 64 in total length1 (all sharks combined, any combination)Open year-roundOpenTPWD 2026 · likely · checked | No harvest0Closed year-roundPut it backTPWD 2026 · checked |
| Virginia | 54 in FL min1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)Open year-roundOpenVMRC 2026 · checked | No harvest0ClosedPut it backVMRC 2026 · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, porbeagle or shortfin mako, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell porbeagle from shortfin mako?
Porbeagle: Stocky cold-water mako cousin — white patch on the first dorsal's rear tip and a second small tail keel. Shortfin Mako: Metallic indigo back, conical snout, dagger teeth; the fastest shark. Shortfin mako, next to porbeagle: no white dorsal patch, single keel.
Which gets bigger, porbeagle or shortfin mako?
Shortfin Mako. The heaviest state record we hold is 1324 lb in Massachusetts; the heaviest porbeagle record is 548 lb in Maine.
Which is better to eat, porbeagle or shortfin mako?
Porbeagle: Good meat, but check the current retention rule before keeping anything. Shortfin Mako: Off the menu while the ban holds.
Do porbeagle and shortfin mako have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 18 state rulebooks. Alabama: porbeagle 54 in fork length minimum, 1 per person per day, shortfin mako Harvest prohibited, Zero; Connecticut: porbeagle 54 in fork length, 1 shark per vessel per trip, shortfin mako Take prohibited, 0; Delaware: porbeagle 54 in FL min, 1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler), shortfin mako Harvest prohibited, 0; Florida (Atlantic): porbeagle 54 in fork length min, 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel, shortfin mako No harvest, No harvest; Florida (Gulf): porbeagle 54 in fork length min, 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel, shortfin mako No harvest, No harvest; and more in the table on this page.