NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Marine Fisheries - Proclamation FF-44-2018
Marine Fisheries
RECREATIONAL SIZE / BAG LIMITS and SEASONS | |||
Species | Minimum Size (Fork Length) in Inches (“) | Trip Bag Limit/Calendar Day | Season |
Atlantic sharpnose | None | 1 per person of each species | Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 |
Bonnethead | None | ||
Hammerheads (Great, Smooth and Scalloped) | 78” | 1 per vessel *OR 1 per person for shore-anglers** | |
Non-Hammerhead Large Coastal Sharks (LCS), Pelagic Sharks, Blacknose and Finetooth | 54” | ||
| *For example, the cumulative total recreational catch for a vessel with three (3) fishermen is three (3) Atlantic sharpnose, and (3) bonnethead, and (1) additional shark in the recreationally permitted species list. **For example, each shore-angler can be in possession of one (1) Atlantic sharpnose, and (1) bonnethead, and (1) additional shark from the recreationally permitted species list. | |||
A. It is unlawful to possess silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) and sandbar (Carcharhinus plumbeus) for recreational purposes.
B. It is unlawful to possess great hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, and scalloped hammerhead sharks less than 78 inches fork length. It is unlawful to possess non-hammerhead Large Coastal Shark species, Pelagic Shark species, blacknose sharks, and finetooth sharks less than 54 inches fork length.
C. Smooth dogfish (smoothhound shark) are exempt from harvest and size restrictions.
D. Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) are exempt from harvest and size restrictions.
E. Recreational Shore-Angler Possession Limits: It is unlawful for each angler to possess more than one (1) shark from the recreationally permitted species list per person per calendar day. One (1) Atlantic sharpnose and one (1) bonnethead may be possessed per person per calendar day, in addition to the one (1) shark from the recreationally permitted species list.
F. Recreational Vessel-Fishing Possession Limits: It is unlawful for each angler fishing from a vessel to possess more than one (1) Atlantic sharpnose and one (1) bonnethead per person per calendar day. It is unlawful to possess more than one (1) additional shark from the recreationally permitted species list aboard a vessel, per calendar day, regardless of the number of people on board the vessel.
G. It is unlawful for recreational fishermen to possess any shark without head, tail, and fins intact with the carcass through the point of landing. Anglers may still gut and bleed the carcass as long as the tail is not removed. Filleting any shark is prohibited, until that shark is offloaded at the dock or on shore.
H. It is unlawful to fail to return all sharks not meeting harvest requirements (including prohibited species) to the water in a manner that ensures the highest likelihood of survival.
I. It is unlawful for recreational fishermen to catch sharks by any gear other than rod and reel or handlines. Handlines are defined as a mainline with no more than two gangions or hooks attached that are retrieved by hand only.
J. It is unlawful to possess a great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead or oceanic whitetip shark while in possession of tunas, billfish or swordfish.
