Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
Circle hooks required when targeting sharks with bait.
MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Massachusetts state record
MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
The tail's upper lobe is as long as the body — the whip is the whole ID. More on the common thresher page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for common thresher in Massachusetts?
54" min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many common thresher can you keep in Massachusetts?
1 shark per trip (aggregate). Counts toward the Sharks (1 per trip) aggregate.
When is common thresher season in Massachusetts?
Open year-round.
What is the Massachusetts record common thresher?
630 lb, Martha's Vineyard (2011).
How current is this Massachusetts common thresher rule?
Source: MA DMF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 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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