Rhode Island state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNo size limit
Bag1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/dayCounts toward the Coastal Sharks aggregate
SeasonOpen year-roundOpen today
Shared recreational shark bag per RI 250-RICR-90-00-3 §3.18.1.
RI DEM 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
How to tell it
Small gray shark with flat pavement teeth — it gums, not bites. More on the smooth dogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for smooth dogfish in Rhode Island?
No size limit.
How many smooth dogfish can you keep in Rhode Island?
1 shark/person/day from shore or 1/vessel/day. Counts toward the Coastal Sharks aggregate.
When is smooth dogfish season in Rhode Island?
Open year-round.
How current is this Rhode Island smooth dogfish rule?
Source: RI DEM 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 dogfish in Rhode Island and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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