Bonnethead Shark regulations in Virginia

Sharks · Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Bonnethead Shark has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 1.

Bonnethead Shark size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Virginia marine waters (to 3 mi)	Open year-round	No minimum size	1 per person, in addition to the vessel's 1 other permitted shark

Notes

Each angler may keep 1 bonnethead AND 1 Atlantic sharpnose per trip, on top of the boat's single other permitted shark.
No minimum size. Land whole with head, tail and fins attached.

Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording

Season: Open year-round
Size: None
Limit: 1 per person per trip (vessel) or per calendar day (shore)
Virginia marine waters (to 3 mi) — as printed: “In addition, each recreational vessel angler may possess one bonnethead and one Atlantic sharpnose per trip. ... 2. Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, finetooth, blacknose, and smooth dogfish sharks are exempt from the recreational size limit described in this subsection.”

Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (2026 season).

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More sharks

Sharks (large coastal group)Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Sharks (blacknose & finetooth)Sharks (pelagic: blue, porbeagle, thresher)Dogfish (smooth & spiny)Sharks (recreationally prohibited)

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.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Virginia Marine Resources Commission, not Wikipedia.

All 75 Virginia species A–Z →

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Bonnethead Shark in Virginia?

No minimum size in Virginia state waters.

How many Bonnethead Shark can you keep per day in Virginia?

1 per person, in addition to the vessel's 1 other permitted shark.

When is Bonnethead Shark season in Virginia?

Open year-round.

Is my Bonnethead Shark a keeper today?

Bonnethead Shark has no size limit today, with a daily limit of 1.