SlotGaugeCheck a catchBonnethead Shark regulations in North Carolina
Sharks · Saltwater · 2026 season
Bonnethead 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
- “Bonnethead None ... 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 bonnethead shark
Species of shark
The bonnethead, also called a bonnet shark or shovelhead, is the smallest member of the hammerhead shark genus Sphyrna, and part of the family Sphyrnidae. It is an abundant species in the littoral zone of the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, is the only shark species known to display sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the head, and is one of two shark species known to be omnivorous.
Read more about Bonnethead 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 Bonnethead Shark in North Carolina?
No size limit in North Carolina state waters.
How many Bonnethead Shark can you keep per day in North Carolina?
1 per person per calendar day.
When is Bonnethead Shark season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Bonnethead Shark a keeper today?
Bonnethead Shark has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 1.