SlotGaugeCheck a catchFinetooth Shark regulations in North Carolina
Sharks · Saltwater · 2026 season
Finetooth Shark size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | 54 inch minimum | 1 per vessel per calendar day (shore anglers 1 per person) |
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
- 54 inches fork length
- Limit
- 1 per vessel per calendar day (the one 'additional shark'), or 1 per person per day for shore anglers
- NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) — as printed
- “It shall be unlawful to possess nonhammerhead Large Coastal Shark species ... blacknose sharks, and finetooth sharks less than 54 inches fork length.”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (2026 season).
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About the finetooth shark
Species of shark
The finetooth shark is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from North Carolina to Brazil. It forms large schools in shallow, coastal waters, and migrates seasonally following warm water. A relatively small, slender-bodied shark, the finetooth shark can be identified by its needle-like teeth, dark blue-gray dorsal coloration, and long gill slits. It attains a maximum length of 1.9 m (6.2 ft). The diet of this species consists primarily of small bony fishes, in particular menhaden. Like other members of its family, it is viviparous with females giving birth to two to six pups in estuarine nursery areas every other year.
Read more about Finetooth shark on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
All 120 North Carolina species A–Z →
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Finetooth Shark in North Carolina?
54 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.
How many Finetooth Shark can you keep per day in North Carolina?
1 per vessel per calendar day (shore anglers 1 per person).
When is Finetooth Shark season in North Carolina?
Open year-round.
Is my Finetooth Shark a keeper today?
A finetooth shark is a keeper today if it measures at least 54 inches, with 1 per vessel per calendar day (shore anglers 1 per person).