Sharks (coastal species) regulations in North Carolina

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size See most recent DMF proclamations; limit See most recent DMF proclamations. Read the exact wording below.

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

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
statewide	Open year-round	See most recent DMF proclamations	See most recent DMF proclamations

Notes

A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' size/limit. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://files.nc.gov/deq/documents/2025-12/FF-3-2026_Comm_Rec_Shark_Open.pdf

Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: See most recent DMF proclamations
Limit: See most recent DMF proclamations
statewide — as printed: “Sharks (G) | See most recent DMF proclamations”

Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (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 North Carolina?

See most recent DMF proclamations in North Carolina state waters.

How many Sharks (coastal species) can you keep per day in North Carolina?

See most recent DMF proclamations.

When is Sharks (coastal species) season in North Carolina?

Open year-round.

Is my Sharks (coastal species) a keeper today?

Not yet converted to a keeper check. As printed: season Open year-round; size See most recent DMF proclamations; limit See most recent DMF proclamations. Read the exact wording below.