Sharks (coastal species) regulations in New Jersey

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups: Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31; other groups no closed season; size Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: none; limit One per person per trip (smoothhound no limit); prohibited species and shortfin mako: zero. Read the exact wording below.

Sharks (coastal species) size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
statewide	Aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups: Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31; other groups no closed season	Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: none	One per person per trip (smoothhound no limit); prohibited species and shortfin mako: zero

Notes

A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' aliases. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://www.eregulations.com/newjersey/fishing/saltwater/sharks

Exact NJDEP Fish & Wildlife wording

Season: Aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups: Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31; other groups no closed season
Size: Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: none
Limit: One per person per trip (smoothhound no limit); prohibited species and shortfin mako: zero
statewide — as printed: “SHARKS | Aggregated large coastal group, Hammerhead group: Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31 | Hammerheads 78"; All other retainable sharks 54" (fork length) | All others: One per person per trip | circle hooks required”

Source: NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).

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About the sharks

Predatory cartilaginous fishes

Sharks are a group of elasmobranch cartilaginous fishes characterized by a ribless endoskeleton, dermal denticles, five to seven gill slits on each side, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the division Selachii and are the sister group to the Batomorphi. Some sources extend the term "shark" as an informal category including extinct members of Chondrichthyes with a shark-like morphology, such as hybodonts. Shark-like chondrichthyans such as Cladoselache and Doliodus first appeared in the Devonian Period, though some fossilized chondrichthyan-like scales are as old as the Late Ordovician. The earliest confirmed modern sharks (Selachii) are known from the Early Jurassic around 200 million years ago, with the oldest known member being Agaleus, though records of true sharks may extend back as far as the Permian.

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Sharks (coastal species) in New Jersey?

Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: none in New Jersey state waters.

How many Sharks (coastal species) can you keep per day in New Jersey?

One per person per trip (smoothhound no limit); prohibited species and shortfin mako: zero.

When is Sharks (coastal species) season in New Jersey?

Open year-round.

Is my Sharks (coastal species) a keeper today?

Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Aggregated large coastal and hammerhead groups: Jan 1–May 14 and July 16–Dec 31; other groups no closed season; size Hammerheads 78" FL; all other retainable sharks 54" FL; Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, smoothhound: none; limit One per person per trip (smoothhound no limit); prohibited species and shortfin mako: zero. Read the exact wording below.