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Bull Shark regulations in Delaware

Sharks (Large Coastal) · Saltwater · 2026 season

Bull Shark size limit, season and daily limit

Notes

• Closed May 15 - July 15.
• Fork length (snout to fork of tail).
• Atlantic HMS Angling Permit required for private vessels in federal waters; non-retained HMS must be released without removing from the water. hmspermits.noaa.gov / (888) 872-8862.

Exact DNREC wording

Season

January 1 to May 14July 16 to December 31All Atlantic Highly Migratory Species permit holders must abide by the non-offset, corrodible circle hook requirement when targeting sharks in Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean (3 to 200 miles off shore).All Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) not retained must be immediately released to ensure the maximum probability of survival, without removing the fish from the water.*Special permit required - All private vessel owners/operators recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Shark Species for personal use in Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean (3 to 200 miles off shore) must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling Permit. Consult https://hmspermits.noaa.gov or call toll free (888) 872-8862 for specific information and permits.

Size

54 inch minimum (measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail)

Limit

Boat anglers - only 1 shark of any species per vessel, except 1 additional Bonnethead and 1 additional Atlantic Sharpnose per angler onboard vessels. Shore anglers - only 1 shark of any species per angler, except 1 additional Bonnethead and one additional Atlantic Sharpnose per shore angler.

Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).

More sharks (large coastal)

About the bull shark

Species of fish

The bull shark, also known as the Zambezi shark in Africa and Lake Nicaragua shark in Nicaragua, is a species of requiem shark commonly found worldwide in warm, shallow waters along coasts and in rivers. It is known for its aggressive nature, and presence mainly in warm, shallow brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries and (usually) lower reaches of rivers. Their aggressive nature has led to ongoing shark-culling efforts near beaches to protect beachgoers, which is one of the causes of bull shark populations continuing to decrease. Bull sharks are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Read more about Bull shark on Wikipedia →

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.

All 196 Delaware species A–Z →

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Bull Shark in Delaware?

54 inch minimum in Delaware state waters.

How many Bull Shark can you keep per day in Delaware?

Boat: 1 shark of any species per vessel (+1 Bonnethead and +1 Atlantic Sharpnose per angler). Shore: 1 shark per angler (+1 Bonnethead, +1 Sharpnose)..

When is Bull Shark season in Delaware?

January 1 – May 14, July 16 – December 31.

Is my Bull Shark a keeper today?

A bull shark is a keeper today if it measures at least 54 inches, with a daily limit of 1.