Shark

Shark Fishing in Florida

FWC lists the sharks that may be harvested and 29 species prohibited from harvest in state waters. Fishing for sharks from shore requires FWC's online course and a no-cost shore-based shark fishing permit, both renewed annually.

Florida rules from FWC and NOAA Fisheries, checked Sep 2026

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. Everything here was copied from FWC and NOAA Fisheries in Sep 2026 and is listed with its source at the bottom of this page. We are not a regulatory authority. Confirm the current rule with your captain or with FWC before you keep a fish.

Florida state records

  • 1,069.06 lb Tiger shark · Pensacola · June 20, 1981 · Richard Baggs
  • 1,063.75 lb Hammerhead shark · Boca Grande · May 5, 2009 · Capt. Bucky Dennis
  • 911.75 lb Mako shark · Palm Beach · April 9, 1962 · Audrey Cohen
  • 764.25 lb Dusky shark · Longboat Key · May 28, 1982 · Warren Girle
  • 686.38 lb White shark · Key West · April 30, 1988 · Richard P. DeAngelis
  • 544.50 lb Common thresher shark · Destin · September 15, 1994 · James Weil
  • 517.44 lb Bull shark · Panama City Bch · October 1, 1981 · Gregory K. Burnett
  • 397.44 lb Lemon shark · Dunedin · April 29, 1977 · Richard M. Guccione
  • 190.00 lb Spinner shark · Flagler Beach · April 3, 1986 · Mrs. Gladys Prior
  • 152.13 lb Blacktip shark · Sebastian · October 29, 1987 · Darlene Rees

From FWC Florida Saltwater Fishing Records (All-Tackle), checked Sep 2026. Records are certified by FWC and can be broken at any time.

Shark species, one page each

Each has its own size, limit and permit rules.

About the fish

SizeBlacktip: maximum length about 6.5 feet, estimated to live up to 10 years
Where it livesCoastal waters, bays and estuaries, often inshore in schools
What it eatsMostly fish, plus small sharks, rays, squid, crabs and lobster

FWC says blacktips may leap clear of the water and spin several times before landing.

From FWC's species profile, checked Sep 2026.

Which rules apply to your trip

  • Targeting or keeping sharks from shore, including jetties, bridges and piers? Anyone 16 or older needs FWC's online course and no-cost shore-based shark fishing permit, renewed annually, including anglers 65 and older who are normally license-exempt.
  • One shark per person, and never more than two for the whole boat, however many people are aboard.
  • The 29 prohibited species may not be harvested in state waters. From shore or a vessel they must stay in the water with the gills submerged, and from shore they must be released without delay.
  • In federal Atlantic water the boat needs an HMS permit with a shark endorsement, and the limits are different again.

Florida: when you can keep one

Florida state waters, under FWC rules.

  • All anglersFWC publishes no season for the species that may be keptThe 29 prohibited species may not be harvested in state waters.
54 inches fork length for the Group Two speciesSize limit
1 per personDaily limit. The Group One species have no minimum size. Never more than two sharks per vessel, even with more than two anglers aboard.

Atlantic federal waters: when you can keep one

Atlantic sharks under NOAA highly migratory species rules, which also apply in state waters when fishing from an HMS-permitted vessel.

  • Anglers with an HMS permitNOAA publishes per-species status rather than datesCheck the status before fishing.
Fork length: 78 inches for hammerheads; 54 inches for blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, spinner, tiger, blacknose, finetooth, blue, porbeagle and thresher; no minimum for Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead and smoothhound.Size limit
1 per vessel per trip in total for hammerhead, blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, spinner, tiger, blacknose, finetooth, blue, porbeagle and thresher; 1 per person per trip each for Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead; no limit for smoothhound.Daily limit. The boat needs an HMS permit with a shark endorsement.

Gear rules

Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks when fishing for sharks with natural bait, a device that can cut the leader or hook quickly, and no chumming when fishing from the beach.

Questions about shark

Do I need a permit to shark fish from the beach?

Yes. To target or keep sharks from shore, including jetties, bridges and piers, FWC requires anglers 16 and older to pass an online course and get the no-cost shore-based shark fishing permit, renewed annually. That includes anglers 65 and older who are normally exempt from a fishing license.

How many sharks can we keep?

Under FWC rules, one shark per person per day and no more than two per vessel, however many anglers are aboard. Under NOAA's Atlantic HMS rules, most species are limited to one per vessel per trip.

Which sharks can't be kept?

FWC lists 29 species prohibited from harvest in state waters, among them great, scalloped and smooth hammerhead, tiger, lemon, dusky, sandbar, sand tiger, shortfin and longfin mako, oceanic whitetip, basking, whale and white shark.

What hooks are required?

Non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hooks when using live or dead natural bait, plus a device that can quickly cut the leader or hook, whether fishing from shore or a vessel.

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