Galapagos sharkin Florida (Gulf)
Carcharhinus galapagensis
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for galapagos shark in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Federally prohibited shark (Galapagos) — release in the water with minimal injury.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galapagos sharkThis page. | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Dusky sharkNearly identical; dusky is the coastal one.Tell them apart | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Sandbar sharkTaller, more forward dorsal.Tell them apart | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
How to tell it
Stocky gray requiem shark with a tall first dorsal fin and an interdorsal ridge; offshore islands and seamounts, rarely inshore. More on the galapagos shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Galapagos shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a galapagos shark in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appGalapagos shark in Florida (Gulf): the questions
Can you keep galapagos shark in Florida (Gulf)?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Gulf). Release it in the water where you can. Federally prohibited shark (Galapagos) — release in the water with minimal injury.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) galapagos 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.