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
How to tell it
Two nearly equal dorsals, yellow-brown cast. More on the lemon shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for lemon shark in Maine?
54" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many lemon 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 lemon shark season in Maine?
Year-round.
How current is this Maine lemon 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 lemon shark in Maine and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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