Scalloped hammerheadin North Carolina
Sphyrna lewini
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for scalloped hammerhead, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
May not be retained if a swordfish, tuna, or billfish is on board. 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
North Carolina state record
234 lb, South of Cape Point, 1990. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Hammer's front edge scalloped with lobes. More on the scalloped hammerhead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Scalloped hammerhead in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a scalloped hammerhead in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appScalloped hammerhead in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for scalloped hammerhead in North Carolina?
78" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many scalloped hammerhead 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 scalloped hammerhead season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
What is the North Carolina record scalloped hammerhead?
234 lb, South of Cape Point (1990).
How current is this North Carolina scalloped hammerhead 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.