It is unlawful to:
- possess the fins from any shark listed in the table below prior to landing unless the fins are attached to the body.
- fillet any shark listed in the table below prior to landing said shark. A shark may be eviscerated and the head removed prior to landing.
- release any shark listed in the table below in a manner that will not ensure the maximum probability of survival.
- have on board more than one shark listed below except that two Atlantic Sharpnose sharks may also be on board.
- possess any prohibited species at any time, in Delaware waters this would include sand tiger sharks, dusky sharks and white sharks
- possess any shark listed below that measures less than 54 inches, forked length.
Shark Species
Large Coastal Species
| Great Hammerhead | Scalloped Hammerhead | Smooth Hammerhead | Tiger Shark |
| Nurse Shark | Silky Shark | Blacktip Shark | Bull Shark |
| Sandbar Shark | Lemon Shark | Spinner Shark | |
Small Coastal Species
| Finetooth Shark | Bonnethead | Atlantic Sharpnose Shark | Blacknose Shark |
Pelagic (open sea) Species
| Porbeagle Shark | Shortfin Mako | Blue Shark | Oceanic Whitetip Shark |
| Thresher Shark | | | |
Prohibited Species
| Basking Shark | Great White Shark | Bigeye Sand Tiger | Sand Tiger |
| Whale Shark | Bignose Shark | Caribbean Reef Shark | Dusky Shark |
| Galapagas Shark | Narrowtooth Shark | Night Shark | Atlantic Angel Shark |
| Caribbean Sharpnose Shark | Smalltail Shark | Bigeye Sixgill Shark | Sevengill Shark |
| Sixgill Shark | Longfin Mako Shark | Bigeye Thresher Shark | |
Additional Information about Sharks
For information or to report a violation, call 1 (800) 523-3336
Back to Recreational Fishing Size, Seasons, and Creel Limits
