Connecticut state waters, out to 3 miles
Own per-person allowance in addition to the 1-shark vessel aggregate. HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required.
Federal HMS permit required to take or possess; rod-and-reel or handline only, landed with head, tail, and fins attached; no CT harvest when federal waters closed.
NOAA HMS 2026 · CT DEEP 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Blacktip sharkLarger, black-tipped fins, no white spots. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Small (under 4 ft), white spots on gray back, long labial furrows at the mouth corners. More on the Atlantic sharpnose shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic sharpnose shark in other states19 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for Atlantic sharpnose shark in Connecticut?
No size limit.
How many Atlantic sharpnose shark can you keep in Connecticut?
1 per person per trip (separate from the vessel shark limit). Counts toward the Coastal sharks aggregate.
When is Atlantic sharpnose shark season in Connecticut?
Year-round.
How current is this Connecticut Atlantic sharpnose shark rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2026 · CT DEEP 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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