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Dusky sharkin Massachusetts

Put it back

Carcharhinus obscurus.

Illustration of a Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus), side view, on a white background — Drawing: Duane Raver / USFWS

Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles

SizeN/A

BagNo possession

SeasonClosed year-round

MA prohibited shark species; release immediately to maximize survival.

MA DMF 2026 · checked 2026-09-07 · the official rulebook is the final word

Often mistaken for

Studio photograph of a Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), side view, on a white background

Sandbar sharkMuch taller, forward-set first dorsal. Tell them apart

SizeN/A

BagNo possession

SeasonClosed year-round

Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.

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 states19 rulebooks
Alabama Connecticut Delaware Florida (Atlantic)Florida (Gulf)Georgia Louisiana Maine Maryland Mississippi New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Rhode Island South Carolina Texas Virginia Every state
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep dusky shark in Massachusetts?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Massachusetts. Release it in the water where you can. MA prohibited shark species; release immediately to maximize survival.
How current is this Massachusetts dusky shark 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.