SlotGaugeCheck a catchAtlantic Sharpnose Shark regulations in North Carolina
Sharks · Saltwater · 2026 season
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | No size limit | 1 per person per calendar day |
Notes
- Boat anglers: 1 Atlantic sharpnose and 1 bonnethead per person per day, plus only ONE additional shark from the permitted list per vessel per day regardless of how many people are aboard. Shore anglers: 1 sharpnose, 1 bonnethead and 1 other permitted shark per person per day.
- Sharks (except spiny dogfish) must be caught on rod and reel or handline using a non-stainless, non-offset circle hook when using natural bait.
- Keep sharks whole: head, tail and fins must stay attached until offloaded at the dock (you may gut and bleed the carcass).
- Federal HMS Angling permit required for sharks in state or federal waters (hmspermits.noaa.gov). No sharks may be possessed in WRC inland fishing waters.
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Open year-round (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31)
- Size
- None
- Limit
- 1 per person per calendar day
- NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “Atlantic sharpnose None 1 per person of each species ... Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 ... One (1) Atlantic sharpnose and one (1) bonnethead may be possessed per person per calendar day”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the atlantic sharpnose shark
Species of shark
The Atlantic sharpnose shark is a species of requiem shark in the family Carcharhinidae. It is found in the subtropical waters of the north-western Atlantic Ocean, between latitudes 43°N and 18°N.
Read more about Atlantic sharpnose shark on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Atlantic Sharpnose Shark in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Atlantic Sharpnose Shark can you keep per day in North Carolina?
1 per person per calendar day.
When is Atlantic Sharpnose Shark season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Atlantic Sharpnose Shark a keeper today?
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 1.