In Sarasota waters, two sharks are legal to keep: the bonnethead and the blacktip. Both carry no minimum size, a 1-per-person daily limit, and can be harvested year-round. The catch: targeting them from shore requires a free permit, they must stay whole until landed, and a long list of prohibited species — including all three large hammerheads — must be released in the water immediately.
Which sharks are legal to keep in Florida?
Florida divides sharks into two groups: Group 1 species have no minimum size and can be kept; Group 2 species have a 54-inch fork-length minimum. In Sarasota, only Group 1 sharks are common—the bonnethead and the blacktip. Both are legal to harvest. The prohibited list is long — the great, scalloped, and smooth hammerheads are all on it, and the bonnethead is the one hammerhead-family shark you can keep. Any prohibited shark hooked must be released in the water with gills submerged and without delay.
What are the bonnethead shark rules?
Bonnetheads (Sphyrna tiburo) are the small hammerheads of Sarasota Bay’s grass flats. They run 2–3.5 ft, hit May through October, and are the entry-level shark species on light tackle.
| Rule | Bonnethead |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | None (Group 1) |
| Bag limit | 1 per person per day |
| Vessel limit | 2 per vessel per day |
| Season | Open year-round |
| Hooks | Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks (required with natural bait) |
| Whole fish | Heads, tails, and fins must stay attached until landed |
| To harvest | Saltwater license + Free Shore-based Shark Permit (if fishing from land, age 16+) |
Bonnetheads are edible—firm and mild—but shark tissue carries high mercury levels. Limit portions; skip it for kids and pregnant women. Bled and iced immediately after landing, they stay edible. One per person is the legal ceiling anyway.
What are the blacktip shark rules?
Blacktips (Carcharhinus limbatus) are Sarasota’s common nearshore shark: 3–5 ft, 20–60 lb, in the passes and off the beaches April through October. Fresh-cut ladyfish is the standard bait.
| Rule | Blacktip |
|---|---|
| Minimum size | None (Group 1) |
| Bag limit | 1 per person per day |
| Vessel limit | 2 per vessel per day |
| Season | Open year-round |
| Hooks | Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks (required with natural bait) |
| Whole fish | Heads, tails, and fins must stay attached until landed |
| To harvest | Saltwater license + Free Shore-based Shark Permit (if fishing from land, age 16+) |
Blacktip is the most commonly eaten shark in Florida—firm, mild, and good grilled when bled and iced immediately. High mercury category; an occasional meal for adults, off the menu for kids and pregnant women.
Do you need a permit for shore-based shark fishing?
Yes. Anyone 16 or older targeting sharks from the beach, a pier, jetty, bridge, or causeway needs FWC’s free Shore-based Shark Fishing Permit. The permit is issued after passing an online course at MyFWC.com/SharkCourse. Anglers under 16 do not need the permit but must take the course unless fishing with someone who holds one. A saltwater license is also required. Chumming is prohibited when shark fishing from any shore-based location — beach, pier, bridge, or jetty; it stays legal from a vessel.
Which sharks are prohibited?
The prohibited list runs to dozens of species. The ones that matter most locally: the great, scalloped, and smooth hammerheads are all illegal to keep — the bonnethead is the only hammerhead-family shark you can. The full prohibited list lives on the FWC shark regulations page.
Prohibited sharks must be released in the water with the gills submerged and without delay. Never drag one onto the beach or deck for a photo. If the hook won’t come out fast, cut the leader close to the fish’s mouth.
Comparing bonnethead and blacktip rules
| Regulation | Bonnethead | Blacktip |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum size | None | None |
| Bag limit per person | 1 per day | 1 per day |
| Vessel limit | 2 per day | 2 per day |
| Season | Year-round | Year-round |
| Required hooks | Non-offset, non-stainless circle | Non-offset, non-stainless circle |
| Shore permit required | Yes (age 16+) | Yes (age 16+) |
| Edible | Yes (high mercury) | Yes (high mercury) |
Both species open year-round, both require the same permit when fishing from land, and both must be bled and iced immediately if kept for consumption.
FAQ
Can you keep a bonnethead shark in Florida? Yes—no minimum size, 1 per person per day, 2 per vessel. It must stay whole until landed.
Can you keep blacktip sharks in Florida? Yes—no minimum size, 1 per person per day, 2 per vessel. Like bonnetheads, the whole fish stays attached until landed.
What is the shark bag limit in Florida? 1 shark per person per day, with a 2-shark maximum per vessel, regardless of how many anglers are aboard. This applies to all legal shark species.
Do you need a special permit to shark fish from the beach? Yes. Anglers 16 and older need FWC’s free Shore-based Shark Fishing Permit. Take the online course at MyFWC.com/SharkCourse to get it. Chumming is prohibited from the beach.
Are bonnethead sharks good to eat? Legal and edible if handled right. Bled and iced immediately, they are firm and mild. Shark tissue contains high levels of mercury—limit portions and avoid for kids and pregnant women.
Related
Legal first: get the Florida fishing license guide and read the FWC regulations explainer. Dive into the species: the bonnethead shark page covers flats tactics and summer patterns, while the blacktip shark page explains pass fishing and nearshore reefs. Check the Gulf seasons calendar for other species opening dates. Fishing from land? The surf and shore fishing guide maps every beach and jetty access point in the region. Full FWC shark rules at myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/sharks/.
