Species
Shark Fishing Charters
Many charters run shark trips, from blacktips inshore to larger species offshore. Several shark species are catch-and-release only. 206 captains and guides in 53 towns list shark. Here is where, and the months it is in season where we have a published calendar.
Key facts
About the shark
Blacktips have black tips on most fins but a white anal fin (spinner sharks have a black-tipped anal fin). Bull sharks are stout with a broad, blunt snout and small eyes; makos are bluish gray with a pointed snout; threshers have a very long tail used to stun prey. A ridge of skin between the dorsal fins (a ridgeback) marks many prohibited species.
- Also called
- Blacktip shark, bull shark, shortfin mako, common thresher shark, hammerhead shark
- Family
- Several shark families; common nearshore targets like blacktip and bull sharks are requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae)
- How big they get
- Varies by species: blacktips reach about 6.5 feet; bull sharks up to about 13 feet and 698 pounds; common threshers can weigh over 1,000 pounds
- Where they live
- Blacktips are year-round in the Gulf and common from Virginia through Florida, reaching Cape Cod. Bull sharks move north to Massachusetts in summer and run far up rivers. Shortfin makos occur off New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, the West Coast and Pacific Islands; common threshers are fished off California.
- Habitat
- Blacktips and bull sharks use beaches, bays, estuaries, reefs and river mouths, mostly shallower than about 100 feet; bull sharks also enter fresh water. Makos and threshers are open-ocean, highly migratory sharks.
- Diet
- Mostly bony fish, smaller sharks, rays and squid. Bull sharks eat mullet, tarpon, catfish, menhaden, snook and snappers; threshers stun prey with their tail.
- Lifespan
- Varies: oldest blacktip observed was 15.5 years; bull sharks live more than 25 years; common threshers more than 20 years
- On the table
- Varies by species. NOAA describes blacktip shark as sweet and meaty, with thick, large, moist flakes.
Where
Where to catch shark with a charter
Counts are captains who list shark, as of October 2026. Months come from the state wildlife agency or local captains’ published calendars where we have one; seasons and limits change, so check current rules.
Before you go
What to know about shark fishing
Things to know
- In federal Atlantic and Gulf waters, sharks require an HMS permit with a shark endorsement; charter boats carry an HMS Charter/Headboat permit.
- Many species are prohibited and must be released without taking them out of the water, including shortfin mako, dusky, sandbar, sand tiger, silky, oceanic whitetip, white and whale sharks.
- NOAA's rule of thumb: 'If you don't know, let it go.' Kept sharks must meet large federal minimum sizes; check NOAA and your state for current rules.
- Tail-hooked threshers tire quickly and often die if the fight runs past about 1.5 hours; heavy tackle and circle hooks improve release survival.
- Bull sharks are linked to at least 100 unprovoked attacks on people; handle all large sharks with care.
How charters catch them
- Rod and reel from boats near shore for blacktips and bull sharks
- Shore, pier and bridge fishing for bull sharks in the Southeast
- Circle hooks with natural bait (required in federal Atlantic waters unless using flies or artificial lures)
- Chumming or chunking while drifting
- For threshers: trolled teasers with a drop-back bait, or slow-trolled live mackerel
Questions
Shark questions
Can you keep a shark on a charter trip?
Some species can be kept if they meet federal and state size and bag rules, but many are prohibited and must be released in the water. Rules change, so check NOAA and your state agency.
Is the shortfin mako legal to keep in the Atlantic?
No. NOAA lists the shortfin mako as a prohibited species for recreational retention in the Atlantic.
How do you tell a blacktip from a spinner shark?
Both have black fin tips, but the blacktip's anal fin is white while the spinner's anal fin is black-tipped.
Facts on this page come from official fisheries and wildlife sources, checked October 2026:
- fisheries.noaa.gov
- fisheries.noaa.gov
- fisheries.noaa.gov
- floridamuseum.ufl.edu
- fisheries.noaa.gov
- filelib.wildlife.ca.gov
Size and bag limits and seasons change and differ by state. Check the state agency before you keep a fish.
For captains and guides
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