Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Maine lists none of its own
HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required; non-offset circle hooks required with natural bait.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Spinner sharkBlack tip ON the anal fin, longer snout. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Black-tipped fins but a plain (unmarked) anal fin; pointed snout; Z-shaped lateral line. More on the blacktip shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for blacktip shark in Maine?
54" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many blacktip shark can you keep in Maine?
1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined. Aggregate: Shark: 1 per vessel per trip aggregate.
When is blacktip shark season in Maine?
Year-round.
How current is this Maine blacktip shark rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 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 blacktip shark in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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