Smooth Dogfish
Mustelus canis
How to tell it
Small gray shark with flat pavement teeth — it gums, not bites.
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 | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundCT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | No size limit | No daily limit | Open year-roundDE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 1 shark per person per day; max 2 per vessel | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 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 · likely · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 54 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No federal recreational limit | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | No size limit | 1 in shark aggregate plus 1 additional per trip | Open year-roundMA DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| MississippiFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No federal recreational limit | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| New HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No federal recreational limit | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No federal recreational limit | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | No size limit | 1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/day | Open year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| South CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | No size limit | No federal recreational limit | Year-roundNOAA HMS 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 64 in total length | 1 (all sharks combined, any combination) | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Virginia | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundVMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 17 lb 11.2 oz | 2016 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Connecticut | 20 lb 14 oz | 2024 · Long Island Sound | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 18 lb | 2022 · Isle of Wight shoals southeast of Ocean City | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Mississippi | 18 lb 14.4 oz | 2007 | MDMR State Saltwater Records (Conventional) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 22 lb | 2020 · Strathmere (Beach) | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| Texas | 26.5 lb | 1998 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good — the classic fish-and-chips shark; bleed and ice.
In the app
Point the camera at a smooth dogfish 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 smooth dogfish
What is the size limit for smooth dogfish?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 54 in fork length minimum; Georgia: 54 in fork length; Louisiana: 54 in fork length; Texas: 64 in total length.
How many smooth dogfish can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person per day; Delaware: No daily limit; 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; Maine: No federal recreational limit; Massachusetts: 1 in shark aggregate plus 1 additional per trip; and more in the table above.
What is the record smooth dogfish?
26.5 lb in Texas (1998), Gulf of America. Other states’ records are in the table.