Blacknose sharkin North Carolina
Carcharhinus acronotus
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for blacknose shark, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required; non-offset circle hooks required with natural bait.
Counts toward an aggregate limit: Shark: 1 per vessel per trip aggregate.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
NOAA HMS 2026· checked Open
How to tell it
Dusky smudge on the snout tip; small slim shark. More on the blacknose shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Blacknose shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a blacknose shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBlacknose shark in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for blacknose shark in North Carolina?
54" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many blacknose shark can you keep in North Carolina?
1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined. It counts toward an aggregate: Shark: 1 per vessel per trip aggregate.
When is blacknose shark season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
How current is this North Carolina blacknose 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.