Silky sharkin Florida (Gulf)
Carcharhinus falciformis
Also called Ridgeback shark.
The rule in Florida (Gulf)
Florida (Gulf)’s own rule for silky shark in state waters, out to 9 nautical miles.
Federally prohibited shark (silky) — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silky sharkThis page. | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Dusky sharkTaller first dorsal, shorter pectorals.Tell them apart | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
| Sandbar sharkVery tall first dorsal set forward.Tell them apart | No harvest | No harvest | Closed year-round |
How to tell it
Slim, dark gray-bronze with long pectoral fins and a low first dorsal set behind the pectorals; smooth-feeling skin, an interdorsal ridge. More on the silky shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Silky shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a silky shark in Florida (Gulf) and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSilky shark in Florida (Gulf): the questions
Can you keep silky shark in Florida (Gulf)?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Florida (Gulf). Release it in the water where you can. Federally prohibited shark (silky) — release in the water with minimal injury.
How current is this Florida (Gulf) silky 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.