Species guide

Hammerhead Shark Fishing

FWC prohibits harvest of great, scalloped and smooth hammerheads in Florida state waters, and they must stay in the water with the gills submerged. NOAA Fisheries lists hammerheads as open in federal waters at 78 inches fork length, one shark per vessel per trip, for vessels with an HMS permit, and not if a swordfish, tuna or billfish is on board.

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Hammerhead Shark

Every charter here names hammerhead 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 hammerhead shark

160 charters name hammerhead shark on their own website, across 75 towns in 1 state.

State records for hammerhead shark

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

StateWeightWhereYearAngler
Florida 1,063.75 lb Boca Grande 2009 Capt. Bucky Dennissource
Texas 1,033 lb Gulf of Mexico 2017 Timothy W. McClellensource
Georgia 770 lb — 1973 Charlie Marshallsource
North Carolina 710 lb Jennette's Ocean Pier 1961 Robert T. Kellersource
South Carolina 588.19 lb Charleston 1989 B. Basssource
Mississippi 436.88 lb — 2002 Robert J. Garrettsource
Maryland 375 lb Parking Lot 2004 George Wilson Ford Vsource
New Jersey 365 lb Mud Hole 1985 Walter Thackarasource

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

SizeGreat hammerhead up to about 18 to 19 feet

FWC says great hammerheads mature at about 8 to 9 feet and can live 44 years.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • In Florida state waters all three hammerheads are prohibited. Keep the shark in the water with its gills submerged and release it.
  • In federal waters NOAA allows one shark per vessel per trip, and a hammerhead may be kept at 78 inches fork length or more, if the vessel has an HMS permit with a shark endorsement and no swordfish, tuna or billfish is on board.
  • FWC says recreational anglers fishing for or keeping sharks in state waters don't need the federal HMS vessel permit. On an HMS-permitted vessel, you must comply with the permit requirements in both state and federal waters.

Harvest rules

When can you keep one in Florida?

Hammerheads, Florida state waters

Florida state waters, Gulf and Atlantic.

  • All anglersClosed to harvestFWC prohibited species. Keep it in the water with the gills submerged; from shore, release it without delay.
None may be keptSize limit
NoneDaily limit. Great, scalloped and smooth hammerheads are on FWC's prohibited list.

Hammerheads, federal waters

Federal waters, under NOAA Fisheries rules.

  • Vessels with an HMS permit and shark endorsementOpenNOAA Fisheries.
78 inches fork lengthSize limit
1 shark per vessel per tripDaily limit. Not if a swordfish, tuna or billfish is on board. The vessel needs an HMS permit with a shark endorsement.

Questions about hammerhead shark

Can I keep a hammerhead in Florida?

Not in state waters: FWC prohibits great, scalloped and smooth hammerheads. In federal waters NOAA allows one shark per vessel per trip, and a hammerhead must be at least 78 inches fork length, the vessel needs an HMS permit with a shark endorsement, and no swordfish, tuna or billfish may be on board.

What should we do if we catch one near shore?

Keep it in the water with its gills submerged, from shore or a boat, and don't bring it aboard. From shore, FWC says release it without delay.

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