Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
How to tell it
White spots on gray, a spine before each dorsal, no anal fin.
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 harvest | No harvest | Closed year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Put it back |
| Florida (Gulf) | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-roundFWC 2026 · likely · checked | Put it back |
| Georgia | 30 in fork length | 1 per angler per day | Open year-roundGA DNR CRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | 54 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| Maine | No size limit | No limit while open · 1 per day after a quota closure | Open year-round unless the ASMFC quota closure is triggeredME DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| Maryland | No size limit | No limit specified | Open year-roundMD DNR 2026 · likely · checked | Open |
| New Hampshire | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundNH F&G 2026 · checked | Open |
| New JerseyFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked | Open |
| New YorkFederal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) | No size limit | No bag limit | Open all yearNOAA GARFO / MAFMC 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 · likely · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 22 lb 11 oz | 2018 · Milford | CT DEEP Saltwater State Record Fish (Harvested) · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Maryland | 11.5 lb | 1993 · Ocean City | MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| New Jersey | 15 lb 12 oz | 1990 · Off Cape May | NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04 |
| Texas | 21 lb | 1986 · Gulf of America | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
How anglers catch it
Bycatch on cod and flounder grounds; they take any bait on the bottom.
On the table
Good — also fish-and-chips fare.
In the app
Point the camera at a spiny 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 spiny dogfish
What is the size limit for spiny dogfish?
It depends on the state. Alabama: 54 in fork length minimum; Georgia: 30 in fork length; Louisiana: 54 in fork length; Texas: 64 in total length.
How many spiny dogfish can you keep?
Alabama: 1 per person per day; Delaware: No daily limit; Georgia: 1 per angler per day; Louisiana: 1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate; Texas: 1 (all sharks combined, any combination).
Where is spiny dogfish harvest prohibited?
Florida (Atlantic), Florida (Gulf). Release it there.
How do you catch spiny dogfish?
Bycatch on cod and flounder grounds; they take any bait on the bottom. Methods: bottom. Baits: mackerel, squid, cut bait.
What is the record spiny dogfish?
22 lb 11 oz in Connecticut (2018), Milford. Other states’ records are in the table.