Md. Code Regs. 08.02.22.02 - Recreational Shark Fishery
A. Authorized
Shark Species. A recreational angler may harvest only the following species:
(1) Smoothhound (Mustelus canis);
(2) Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon
terraenovae);
(3) Bonnethead (Sphyrna
tiburo);
(4) Finetooth (Carcharhinus
isodon);
(5) Blacknose (Carcharhinus
acronotus);
(6) Tiger (Galeocerdo
cuvier);
(7) Blacktip (Carcharhinus
limbatus);
(8) Spinner (Carcharhinus
brevipinna);
(9) Bull (Carcharhinus
leucas);
(10) Lemon (Negaprion
brevirostris);
(11) Nurse (Ginglymostoma
cirratum);
(12) Shortfin mako (Isurus
oxyrinchus);
(13) Porbeagle (Lamna
nasus);
(14) Common thresher (Alopias
vulpinus);
(15) Oceanic whitetip
(Carcharhinus longimanus);
(16) Blue
(Prionace glauca);
(17) Scalloped
hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini);
(18) Great
hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran); and
(19)
Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena).
B. Season Closure. A recreational angler may not
harvest, possess, or transport the species listed in §A(6)-(11) and (17)-(19)
of this regulation from May 15 through July 15, inclusive, regardless of where the
shark was caught.
C. Size Limits.
(1) There is no minimum fork length for the
species listed in §A(1)-(3) of this regulation.
(2) The minimum fork length is 4.5 feet (54
inches) for the species listed in §A(4)-(16) of this regulation.
(3) The minimum fork length is 78 inches for the
species listed in §A(17)-(19) of this regulation.
D. Catch Limits.
(1)
(2) Shore-Angler Catch Limits. Each calendar day, a
recreational shore-angler may harvest:
(2)
(3) Vessel-Fishing Catch Limits.
(1) There is no catch limit for smoothhound
(Mustelus canis) sharks.
(a) Only
one shark, regardless of the species, from the species listed in §A(2)-(19) of
this regulation;
(b) One additional Smoothhound
(Mustelus canis);
(b)
One additional Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae); and
(c) One additional Bonnethead (Sphyrna
tiburo).
(a) A recreational fishing vessel may not harvest
more than one shark, per trip, from the list in §A(2)-(19) of this regulation,
regardless of the:
(i) Species of shark;
and
(ii) Number of people on board the
vessel.
(b) In addition to
the vessel limit described in §D(3)(a) of this regulation, each recreational
angler fishing from a vessel may harvest, per trip:
(i) One Smoothhound (Mustelus
canis);
(i) One Atlantic sharpnose
(Rhizoprionodon terraenovae); and
(ii)
One Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo).
E. Gear.
(1) A
recreational angler may catch sharks using only active line fishing gear.
(1) Handlines retrieved by hand, not by
mechanical means; or
(2) Rod and
reel.
(2) Except when
fishing with artificial flies or artificial lures, a recreational angler fishing for
sharks shall use a circle hook.
(3) A
circle hook used to catch a shark shall be corrodible.
(4) A recreational angler fishing for sharks shall
have in possession at least one device capable of quickly cutting either the leader
or the hook.
F. Tags and
Reporting.
(1) An individual shall obtain tags and
catch information forms from a reporting station designated by the
Department.
(2) Before removing a landed
shark from a boat or removing a boat containing a shark from the water, a person
shall:
(a) Affix a tail tag, provided by the
reporting station, to the shark; and
(b)
Complete a catch information form provided by the reporting station.
(3) Before removing a landed shark from
the point of landing if caught on shore, a person shall:
(a) Affix a tail tag, provided by the reporting
station, to the shark; and
(b) Complete
a catch information form provided by the reporting station.
(4) Upon landing a shark, an individual shall
immediately return the catch information form to a reporting station designated by
the Department.
G. General.
(1) A recreational angler may not sell, barter, or
trade sharks or shark pieces.
(2) When
aboard a vessel, a recreational angler is bound by the more restrictive
vessel-fishing possession limits described in §D(3) of this regulation,
regardless of the location where the shark was caught.
(3) A shark that is transported by a vessel is
considered "boat assisted" and is regulated under the more restrictive
vessel-fishing possession limits described in §D(3) of this regulation,
regardless of where it was caught.
(4)
All sharks harvested by a recreational angler shall have heads, tails, and fins
attached naturally to the carcass through landing.
(5) Sharks harvested in accordance with this
regulation may be eviscerated as long as the tail is not removed.
(6) An individual shall immediately release a
species of shark:
(a) That is not listed in
§A of this regulation;
(b) Whose
season is closed as described in §B of this regulation; or
(c) That does not meet the minimum size specified
in §C of this regulation.
(7) Except for a smoothhound, an individual may
not remove from the water a shark that will be released.
(8) For any shark that will be released, an
individual may not:
(a) Sit on the shark;
(b) Hold the shark's mouth open;
(c) Put the shark on dry sand;
(d) Put the shark on a boat deck; or
(e) Use a gaff.
Notes
Regulation .02F, G amended effective May 27, 2013 (40:10 Md. R. 916); amended effective 46:14 Md. R. 621, eff.
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.