Bull sharkin North Carolina
Carcharhinus leucas
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for bull 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
Broad blunt snout, no ridge between dorsals, thick body; brackish wanderer. More on the bull shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Bull shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a bull shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appBull shark in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for bull shark in North Carolina?
54" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many bull 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 bull shark season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
How current is this North Carolina bull 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.