Delaware state waters, out to 3 miles
Non-offset corrodible circle hooks required when bait fishing for sharks.
DE DNREC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Spinner sharkBlack tip ON the anal fin, longer snout. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Black-tipped fins but a plain (unmarked) anal fin; pointed snout; Z-shaped lateral line. More on the blacktip shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for blacktip shark in Delaware?
54 in FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many blacktip shark can you keep in Delaware?
1 shark aggregate per vessel (shore: per angler). Aggregate: DE shark aggregate (1 per vessel; shore anglers 1 each).
When is blacktip shark season in Delaware?
Jan 1 - May 14 and Jul 16 - Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
How current is this Delaware blacktip shark rule?
Source: DE DNREC 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a blacktip shark in Delaware and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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