Shortfin Mako
Isurus oxyrinchus
How to tell it
Metallic indigo back, conical snout, dagger teeth; the fastest 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 · likely · 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 | 83 in fork length | 1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewer | Only when federal quota is openGA DNR CRD 2026 · likely · checked | Closed |
| 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 | 37 in total length minimum | 1 per person per day (max 3 per vessel) | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | Possession prohibited | Possession prohibited | Closed year-roundNH F&G 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 737 lb | 1978 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 650 lb | 1987 · Block Island Sound | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Delaware | 975 lb | 2000 | DNREC Delaware Fishing Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Florida | 911.75 lb | 1962 · Palm Beach | FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 440 lb | 2017 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Louisiana | 1,149.5 lb | 2009 · 70m S. of Fourchon, La. | LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maine | 680 lb | 1990 · Saco | Maine DMR Saltwater Angler Records (Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 876 lb | 2009 · Poormans Canyon | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Massachusetts | 1324 lb | 1999 · Massachusetts Bay | MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| Mississippi | 550 lb | 2012 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 856 lb | 1994 · Wilmington Canyon | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| New York | 1080 lb | 1979 | NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records · checked 2026-09-04 |
| North Carolina | 768 lb | 1983 · Off Oregon Inlet | NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22 |
| Rhode Island | 718 lb | 1993 · S. Block Island | RI DEM Saltwater Sportfish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| South Carolina | 391 lb 15 oz | 2002 · Charleston | SCDNR Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Texas | 707.5 lb | 2002 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Virginia | 728 lb | 1983 · Ches. Light Tower | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Off the menu while the ban holds.
In the app
Point the camera at a shortfin mako 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 shortfin mako
What is the size limit for shortfin mako?
It depends on the state. Georgia: 83 in fork length; Mississippi: 37 in total length minimum.
How many shortfin mako can you keep?
Georgia: 1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewer; Mississippi: 1 per person per day (max 3 per vessel).
Where is shortfin mako harvest prohibited?
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf), Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia. Release it there.
What is the record shortfin mako?
1324 lb in Massachusetts (1999), Massachusetts Bay. Other states’ records are in the table.