Maryland state waters, out to 3 miles
MD DNR 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Scalloped hammerheadNotched, wavy hammer edge. Tell them apart
Great hammerheadNearly straight hammer, tall sickle dorsal. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Maryland state record
MD DNR Sport Fish State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
The hammer's front edge is smoothly curved with NO center notch — the scalloped's is scalloped. More on the smooth hammerhead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for smooth hammerhead in Maryland?
78 in FL. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many smooth hammerhead can you keep in Maryland?
1 shark per vessel per trip (aggregate); shore 1 per day. Aggregate: Shark aggregate (1 per vessel/trip).
When is smooth hammerhead season in Maryland?
Open year-round except May 15-Jul 15. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Maryland record smooth hammerhead?
375 lb, Parking Lot (2004).
How current is this Maryland smooth hammerhead rule?
Source: MD DNR 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a smooth hammerhead in Maryland and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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