Sand Tiger
Carcharias taurus
How to tell it
Ragged snaggle teeth visible even when closed; both dorsals equal-sized and set far back.
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 | No harvest or possession | Closed year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| 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 | No take | Closed year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Put it back |
| 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 |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 290 lb | 1977 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall; frozen record (harvest prohibited) |
| Maryland | 334 lb | 1983 · Ocean City | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · marked * by the state (no footnote on page); MD Atlantic division record |
| South Carolina | 350 lb 2 oz | 1993 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 · frozen record (protected/slot species) |
| Texas | 520 lb | 1976 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 · Sand tiger shark, printed by TPWD as 'Tiger, Sand' |
| Virginia | 339 lb | 1983 · Off Cape Charles | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Prohibited — release.
In the app
Point the camera at a sand tiger 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 sand tiger
Where is sand tiger harvest prohibited?
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia. Release it there.
What is the record sand tiger?
520 lb in Texas (1976), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.