Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 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.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
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 Virginia?
78 in FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many smooth hammerhead can you keep in Virginia?
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined). Counts toward the Sharks (1 per vessel) aggregate.
When is smooth hammerhead season in Virginia?
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Virginia record smooth hammerhead?
272 lb, Off Virginia Beach (1988).
How current is this Virginia smooth hammerhead 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a smooth hammerhead in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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