Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
Prohibited; intentional targeting unlawful, and shore-based heavy-gear restrictions apply on Cape Cod Bay, the Outer Cape, and Nantucket.
MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Shortfin makoSlimmer, with smooth-edged dagger teeth. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Conical snout, black eye, torpedo bulk; serrated triangular teeth; stark white underside. More on the great white shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep great white shark in Massachusetts?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Massachusetts. Release it in the water where you can. Prohibited; intentional targeting unlawful, and shore-based heavy-gear restrictions apply on Cape Cod Bay, the Outer Cape, and Nantucket.
How current is this Massachusetts great white 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.
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