Dusky sharkin Florida (Gulf)
Carcharhinus obscurus
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for dusky shark in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
FWC prohibited shark list; release without delay, gills submerged.
FWC 2026· checked Put it back
Often mistaken for, and their Florida (Gulf) rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dusky sharkThis page. | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Sandbar sharkMuch taller, forward-set first dorsal.Tell them apart | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
Florida (Gulf) state record
764.25 lb, Longboat Key, 1982. FWC Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Low, sloping first dorsal set behind the pectorals; slender body; faint ridge between dorsals. More on the dusky shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Dusky shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a dusky shark in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appDusky shark in Florida (Gulf): the questions
Can you keep dusky shark in Florida (Gulf)?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Gulf). Release it in the water where you can. FWC prohibited shark list; release without delay, gills submerged.
What is the Florida (Gulf) record dusky shark?
764.25 lb, Longboat Key (1982).
How current is this Florida (Gulf) dusky shark rule?
Source: FWC 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.