Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · New Hampshire lists none of its own
Federal waters only — Florida state waters prohibit all hammerhead harvest; can't be kept with tuna or billfish aboard.
NOAA HMS 2025 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Gear required HMS sharks
NOAA HMS 2025 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Scalloped hammerheadNotched, wavy hammer edge. Tell them apart
Great hammerheadNearly straight hammer, tall sickle dorsal. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
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.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for smooth hammerhead in New Hampshire?
78 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many smooth hammerhead can you keep in New Hampshire?
1 shark per vessel per trip.
When is smooth hammerhead season in New Hampshire?
Open year-round.
What gear is required for smooth hammerhead in New Hampshire?
Non-offset, corrodible circle hooks required when fishing with bait. HMS Angling permit with shark endorsement required in federal waters.
How current is this New Hampshire 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a smooth hammerhead in New Hampshire and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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