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Rules by state · North Carolina

Bluntnose sixgill sharkin North Carolina

Hexanchus griseus

Also called Sixgill shark, Cow shark.

Recreational rule, NC DMF 2026, checked Sep 20, 2026. The official rulebook is the final word.

Studio photograph of a Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus), side view, on a white background

The rule in North Carolina

North Carolina’s own rule for bluntnose sixgill shark in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.

SizeN/A
BagNo harvest or possession
SeasonClosed year-round

Federally prohibited shark (bluntnose sixgill) — release in the water with minimal injury.

NC DMF 2026· checked Put it back

How to tell it

Six gill slits (most sharks have five), one dorsal fin set far back near the tail, a broad blunt snout; a deep-water shark. More on the bluntnose sixgill shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.

Bluntnose sixgill shark in other states

Florida (Atlantic)Florida (Gulf)Every state

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Point the camera at a bluntnose sixgill shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.

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Bluntnose sixgill shark in North Carolina: the questions

Can you keep bluntnose sixgill shark in North Carolina?

No. Harvest is prohibited in North Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. Federally prohibited shark (bluntnose sixgill) — release in the water with minimal injury.

How current is this North Carolina bluntnose sixgill shark rule?

Source: NC DMF 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.