Species guide

Blacktip Shark Fishing

Blacktip sharks are active, fast-swimming sharks that may leap out of the water, common in Florida's coastal waters, bays and estuaries. In state waters there's no minimum size; in federal waters it's 54 inches fork length.

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Blacktip Shark

Every charter here names blacktip shark on its own website, checked on the captain's own site

Check before you keep a fish. Seasons and limits change, sometimes in the middle of a season, and a court or an agency can change them overnight. Seasons and limits are set state by state. The ones on this page are Florida's, copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and listed with their source at the foot of the page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the rule for the water you will fish with your captain or with that state's wildlife agency.

Where to fish for blacktip shark

190 charters name blacktip shark on their own website, across 89 towns in 1 state.

State records for blacktip shark

The heaviest blacktip shark each state has certified, biggest first.

StateWeightWhereYearAngler
Maryland 193 lb Ocean City 1991 Brian Zysksource
Texas 190 lb Gulf of Mexico 2003 Davey Wrightsource
South Carolina 163.88 lb Hilton Head 2009 D. Rowesource
Florida 152.13 lb Sebastian 1987 Darlene Reessource
Georgia 131 lb — 1978 Albert Lee Boydsource
Mississippi 98.6 lb — 2005 Thomas W. Barnessource

Each from that state's own records page, linked on every row. A location links to its town only where the agency named that town — a record logged to "Gulf of Mexico" or an offshore block belongs to no city. Weights are printed as the agency prints them. Records are certified by the state and can be broken at any time.

About the fish

SizeUp to about 6.5 feet
Where it livesCoastal waters, bays and estuaries
What it eatsMainly fish, plus small sharks, rays, squid, crabs and lobster

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • In state waters FWC's shark rules apply and no federal permit is needed. A boat that holds an HMS permit must follow the federal rules in state waters too.
  • To target or keep sharks from shore (including jetties, bridges and piers), anyone 16 or older must pass FWC's online shark course and hold its no-cost shore-based shark fishing permit, renewed each year. It is not required when fishing from a vessel.
  • Circle hooks (non-offset, non-stainless steel) are required with natural bait.

Harvest rules

When can you keep one in Florida?

Blacktip, Florida state waters

Florida state waters.

  • All anglersHarvestable; FWC lists no seasonFWC lists blacktip as a harvestable shark.
No minimum sizeSize limit
1 shark per person per dayDaily limit. No more than 2 sharks per vessel.

Blacktip, federal waters

Federal waters, under NOAA Fisheries rules.

  • Vessels with an HMS permit and shark endorsementOpenNOAA Fisheries.
54 inches fork lengthSize limit
1 shark per vessel per tripDaily limit. The vessel needs an HMS permit with a shark endorsement.

Questions about blacktip shark

Is there a size limit on blacktip sharks?

Not in Florida state waters, unless you are on a vessel with a federal HMS permit, which must follow federal requirements there too. In federal waters the minimum is 54 inches fork length.

How many can we keep?

In state waters, 1 per person and no more than 2 per boat (a vessel with a federal HMS permit must follow federal requirements there too). In federal waters, 1 shark total per vessel per trip across blacktip, bull, spinner, tiger and the other sharks in that group.

Seasons, sizes and bag limits on this page were copied from FWC, shark regulations and NOAA Fisheries, recreational Atlantic sharks and FWC, blacktip shark profile in Sep 2026. Rules change, sometimes mid-season. Check the current rule with your captain or FWC before you keep a fish.