Smooth HammerheadorGreat Hammerhead
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
Smooth Hammerhead
The hammer's front edge is smoothly curved with NO center notch — the scalloped's is scalloped.
Great Hammerhead
Nearly straight hammer with a center notch; towering dorsal.
Great hammerhead, next to smooth hammerhead: nearly straight hammer, tall sickle dorsal.
Side by side
| Smooth Hammerhead | Great Hammerhead | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sphyrna zygaena | Sphyrna mokarran |
| Also called | — | — |
| Waters | Sharks | Sharks |
| Heaviest state record | 375 lb · Maryland (2004) | 1,063.75 lb · Florida (2009) |
| On the table | Most are released. | Overwhelmingly released; hammerheads fight to exhaustion — quick release matters. |
| Rules of its own in | 19 states | 19 states |
Rules for
Every state, both fish
The two fish are regulated differently in 4 of 19 states with a rule for either. In Connecticut, smooth hammerhead is 78 in fork length, 1 shark per vessel per trip and great hammerhead is 78" FL min, 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined. Call the fish wrong and you keep a short one or throw back a legal one.
| State | Smooth Hammerhead: size · bag · season | Great Hammerhead: size · bag · season |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 78 in fork length minimum1 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked | 78 in fork length minimum1 per person per dayOpen year-roundOpenAL MRD 2026 · checked |
| Connecticut | 78 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenNOAA HMS 2025 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked | 78" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundOpenNOAA HMS 2026 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked |
| Delaware | 78 in FL min1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler)Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31OpenDE DNREC 2026 · checked | 78 in FL min1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler)Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31OpenDE DNREC 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No harvestNo harvestClosed year-roundPut it backFWC 2026 · checked | No harvestNo harvestClosed year-roundPut it backFWC 2026 · checked |
| Florida (Gulf) | No harvestNo harvestClosed year-roundPut it backFWC 2026 · checked | No harvestNo harvestClosed year-roundPut it backFWC 2026 · checked |
| Georgia | 78 in fork length1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewerOpen year-roundOpenGA DNR CRD 2026 · likely · checked | 78 in fork length1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewerOpen year-roundOpenGA DNR CRD 2026 · likely · checked |
| Louisiana | 54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregateOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked | 54 in fork length1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregateOpen year-roundOpenLDWF 2026 · checked |
| Maine | 78 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2025 · checked | 78" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2026 · checked |
| Maryland | 78 in FL1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per dayOpen year-round except May 15-Jul 15OpenMD DNR 2026 · checked | 78 in FL1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per dayOpen year-round except May 15-Jul 15OpenMD DNR 2026 · checked |
| Massachusetts | 78" min1 shark per trip (aggregate)Open year-roundOpenMA DMF 2026 · checked | 78" min1 shark per trip (aggregate)Open year-roundOpenMA 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 | 78 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2025 · checked | 78" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2026 · checked |
| New Jersey | 78 in FL min1 shark per vessel per tripJan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31OpenNJ DEP 2026 · checked | 78 in FL min1 shark per vessel per tripJan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31OpenNJ DEP 2026 · checked |
| New York | 78" FL1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenNY DEC 2026 · checked | 78" FL1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenNY DEC 2026 · checked |
| North Carolina | 78 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2025 · checked | 78" FL min1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combinedYear-roundOpenFederal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species)NOAA HMS 2026 · checked |
| Rhode Island | 78" FL min1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/dayOpen year-roundOpenRI DEM 2026 · checked | 78" FL min1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/dayOpen year-roundOpenRI DEM 2026 · checked |
| South Carolina | 78 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked | 78 in fork length1 shark per vessel per tripOpen year-roundOpenSC DNR 2026 · checked |
| Texas | 99 in total length1 (all sharks combined, any combination)Open year-roundOpenTPWD 2026 · checked | 99 in total length1 (all sharks combined, any combination)Open year-roundOpenTPWD 2026 · checked |
| Virginia | 78 in FL min1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15OpenVMRC 2026 · checked | 78 in FL min1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15OpenVMRC 2026 · checked |
In the app
Point the camera at the fish and Chum names it before you take the picture, smooth hammerhead or great hammerhead, with the right rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask
How do you tell smooth hammerhead from great hammerhead?
Smooth Hammerhead: The hammer's front edge is smoothly curved with NO center notch — the scalloped's is scalloped. Great Hammerhead: Nearly straight hammer with a center notch; towering dorsal. Great hammerhead, next to smooth hammerhead: nearly straight hammer, tall sickle dorsal.
Which gets bigger, smooth hammerhead or great hammerhead?
Great Hammerhead. The heaviest state record we hold is 1,063.75 lb in Florida; the heaviest smooth hammerhead record is 375 lb in Maryland.
Which is better to eat, smooth hammerhead or great hammerhead?
Smooth Hammerhead: Most are released. Great Hammerhead: Overwhelmingly released; hammerheads fight to exhaustion — quick release matters.
Do smooth hammerhead and great hammerhead have the same limits?
Not everywhere. They differ in 4 state rulebooks. Connecticut: smooth hammerhead 78 in fork length, 1 shark per vessel per trip, great hammerhead 78" FL min, 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined; Maine: smooth hammerhead 78 in fork length, 1 shark per vessel per trip, great hammerhead 78" FL min, 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined; New Hampshire: smooth hammerhead 78 in fork length, 1 shark per vessel per trip, great hammerhead 78" FL min, 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined; North Carolina: smooth hammerhead 78 in fork length, 1 shark per vessel per trip, great hammerhead 78" FL min, 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined.