Silky sharkin North Carolina
Carcharhinus falciformis
Also called Ridgeback shark.
The rule in North Carolina
North Carolina’s own rule for silky shark in state waters, out to 3 nautical miles.
Federally prohibited shark (silky) — release in the water with minimal injury.
NC DMF 2026· checked Put it back
Often mistaken for, and their North Carolina rules
Keep the wrong fish and the rule that applies is the other one’s.
| Fish | Size | Bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silky sharkThis page. | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
| Dusky sharkTaller first dorsal, shorter pectorals.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
| Sandbar sharkVery tall first dorsal set forward.Tell them apart | N/A | No harvest or possession | Closed year-round |
How to tell it
Slim, dark gray-bronze with long pectoral fins and a low first dorsal set behind the pectorals; smooth-feeling skin, an interdorsal ridge. More on the silky shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Silky shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a silky shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSilky shark in North Carolina: the questions
Can you keep silky shark in North Carolina?
No. Harvest is prohibited in North Carolina. Release it in the water where you can. Federally prohibited shark (silky) — release in the water with minimal injury.
How current is this North Carolina silky 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.