Smooth Hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
How to tell it
The hammer's front edge is smoothly curved with NO center notch — the scalloped's is scalloped.
- Not a scalloped hammerhead? That one notched, wavy hammer edge. (Scalloped Hammerhead)
- Not a great hammerhead? That one nearly straight hammer, tall sickle dorsal. (Great Hammerhead)
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 78 in fork length minimum | 1 per person per day | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Connecticut | 78 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| Delaware | 78 in FL min | 1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler) | Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31DE DNREC 2026 · checked | Open |
| 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 | 78 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 · checked | Open |
| MaineFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 78 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | 78 in FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day | Open year-round except May 15-Jul 15MD DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Massachusetts | 78" 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 HampshireFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 78 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| New Jersey | 78 in FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31NJ DEP 2026 · checked | Open |
| New York | 78" FL | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNY DEC 2026 · checked | Open |
| North CarolinaFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) | 78 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundNOAA HMS 2025 · checked | Open |
| Rhode Island | 78" FL min | 1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/day | Open year-roundRI DEM 2026 · checked | Open |
| South Carolina | 78 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-roundSC DNR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | 99 in total length | 1 (all sharks combined, any combination) | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Virginia | 78 in FL min | 1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined) | Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15VMRC 2026 · checked | Open |
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 375 lb | 2004 · Parking Lot | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 · MD Atlantic division record |
| Virginia | 272 lb | 1988 · Off Virginia Beach | VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04 |
On the table
Most are released.
In the app
Point the camera at a smooth hammerhead 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 hammerhead
What is the size limit for smooth hammerhead?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 78 in fork length minimum; Connecticut: 78 in fork length; Delaware: 78 in FL min; Georgia: 78 in fork length; Louisiana: 54 in fork length; Maine: 78 in fork length; Maryland: 78 in FL; Massachusetts: 78" min; and more in the table above.
How many smooth hammerhead 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); Georgia: 1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewer; Louisiana: 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate; Maine: 1 shark per vessel per trip; Maryland: 1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day; Massachusetts: 1 shark per trip (aggregate); and more in the table above.
Where is smooth hammerhead harvest prohibited?
Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf). Release it there.
When is smooth hammerhead season?
Delaware: Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31; Maryland: Open year-round except May 15-Jul 15; New Jersey: Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31; Virginia: Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15.
How do you tell smooth hammerhead from scalloped hammerhead?
Smooth Hammerhead has this: The hammer's front edge is smoothly curved with NO center notch — the scalloped's is scalloped.. Scalloped Hammerhead notched, wavy hammer edge.
What is the record smooth hammerhead?
375 lb in Maryland (2004), Parking Lot. Other states’ records are in the table.