Smooth hammerheadin North Carolina
Sphyrna zygaena
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for smooth hammerhead, so the council's rule applies in state waters too.
Federal waters only — Florida state waters prohibit all hammerhead harvest; can't be kept with tuna or billfish aboard.
Gear: Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required when fishing with bait; HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required in federal waters.
Measured as fork length (FL): snout to the fork of the tail.
NOAA HMS 2025· checked Open
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth hammerheadThis page. | 78 in fork length | 1 shark per vessel per trip | Open year-round |
| Scalloped hammerheadNotched, wavy hammer edge.Tell them apart | 78" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-round |
| Great hammerheadNearly straight hammer, tall sickle dorsal.Tell them apart | 78" FL min | 1 shark per vessel per trip — all authorized sharks combined | Year-round |
How to tell it
The hammer's front edge is smoothly curved with NO center notch — the scalloped's is scalloped. More on the smooth hammerhead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Smooth hammerhead in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a smooth hammerhead in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appSmooth hammerhead in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for smooth hammerhead in North Carolina?
78 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many smooth hammerhead can you keep in North Carolina?
1 shark per vessel per trip.
When is smooth hammerhead season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
How current is this North Carolina smooth hammerhead rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 2025, 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.