Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · New Hampshire lists none of its own
Federally prohibited shark — release with minimal injury without removing from the water.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Sandbar sharkMuch taller, forward-set first dorsal. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Low, sloping first dorsal set behind the pectorals; slender body; faint ridge between dorsals. More on the dusky shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep dusky shark in New Hampshire?
No. Harvest is prohibited in NOAA Highly Migratory Species waters, and New Hampshire lists no rule of its own. Release it in the water where you can. Federally prohibited shark — release with minimal injury without removing from the water.
How current is this New Hampshire dusky 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.
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