New York state waters, out to 3 miles
NY DEC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
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 ask4
What is the size limit for smooth hammerhead in New York?
78" FL. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many smooth hammerhead can you keep in New York?
1 shark per vessel per trip. Counts toward the NY allowed sharks (1 per vessel per trip) aggregate.
When is smooth hammerhead season in New York?
Open year-round.
How current is this New York smooth hammerhead rule?
Source: NY DEC 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a smooth hammerhead in New York and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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