Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Bull sharkBroader snout, no ridge between dorsals. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Very tall first dorsal starting over the pectorals; high back ridge; stocky gray-brown body. More on the sandbar shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask3
Can you keep sandbar shark in Virginia?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Virginia. Release it in the water where you can. On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
What is the Virginia record sandbar shark?
213 lb, Triangle Wrecks (1986).
How current is this Virginia sandbar shark rule?
Source: VMRC 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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