Tiger sharkin North Carolina
Galeocerdo cuvier
The rule in North Carolina
Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). North Carolina lists no rule of its own for tiger 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
North Carolina state record
1,150 lb, Yaupon Beach Pier, 1966. NCDMF State Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-22
How to tell it
Tiger bars (fade with age), blunt wide snout, cockscomb teeth. More on the tiger shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Tiger shark in other states
In the app
Point the camera at a tiger shark in North Carolina and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the appTiger shark in North Carolina: the questions
What is the size limit for tiger shark in North Carolina?
54" FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many tiger 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 tiger shark season in North Carolina?
Year-round.
What is the North Carolina record tiger shark?
1,150 lb, Yaupon Beach Pier (1966).
How current is this North Carolina tiger 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.