Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Not a target here: shore and pier shark fishing is banned by Horry County Code Sec. 5-11, Myrtle Beach Code Sec. 5-5 and the Surfside Beach town code (source: Horry County Code of Ordinances Sec. 5-11, Fishing from shore or pier (Ord. No. 27-11, 2011), eLaws code library). Release any shark caught by accident.

Season

Peak months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

SCDNR MRRI: SC coastal sharks arrive in the estuaries in spring when water reaches 19-20 C (66-68 F) and start moving offshore in fall when it drops below 26 C (79 F). Months placed on NWS Springmaid Pier average water temperatures. SCDNR: the most abundant shark in SC coastal waters from April through September. (Our inference)

Where to find them

Along the beach on the bottom, in the first trough and just past the bar, and around inlets.

On the bottom just past the breakers and in the first trough; often in schools of similar size.

What to look for

Small gray-brown shark with white spots on the back and sides, long pointed snout, first dorsal fin set well behind the pectoral fins.

Bait

Fresh cut mullet, Cut menhaden (bunker), Shrimp or squid for small ones. Fish-finder rig cast just past the breakers: steel leader, non-offset, non-stainless circle hook (required in SC with natural bait), 50 to 80 lb braid on a 10 to 15 ft surf rod.

Leader

Steel leader, as SC surf shark anglers use.

Common mistakes

• Using a J hook or offset circle hook with bait (SC requires non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks)
• Dragging the shark up the dry sand
• Keeping a shark you cannot identify

Landing

Lead it into the shallow wash and keep it in the water there. Do not drag it up the dry sand or lift it by the tail.

Handling

• Teeth
• Abrasive skin
• Sudden thrashing

Keep it in the water: do not drag it up the beach and keep hands away from the mouth and gills. If the hook is deep or you would have to reach near the mouth, cut the leader as close to the hook as you can; carry a cutter that can cut the leader or hook. Prohibited sharks (sandbar, sand tiger, dusky and others) must be released without removing them from the water; treat any shark you cannot identify as prohibited.

Keep or release

Where shore shark fishing is legal: SC limit 1 per person per day for the Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead group, no minimum size listed. SCDNR and NOAA describe it as good eating. Banned from shore on the Horry County coast.

Typical: 2 to 3 ft. Large: Up to about 3.5 ft (rarely more). SC record 13 lb 5 oz (Murrells Inlet, 2009).

South Carolina limits

• Minimum: none
• Maximum: none
• Bag: 1 per person per day (the limit SC publishes for its Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead group)
• Season: No closed season listed
• Rod and reel or handline only
• Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks required with natural bait (not with flies or artificial lures)
• Land with head, tail and fins naturally attached
• Federal waters (past 3 miles) need a federal HMS permit with a shark endorsement
• Check local rules: many beach towns ban shore shark fishing

Last checked 2026-10-11. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. SC DNR fishing regulations.

Sources

• SCDNR Marine Resources Research Institute: shark research (estuary arrival and departure temperatures) (Official source)
• SCDNR Marine Resources Division: Sharks of South Carolina (2004 field guide; limits in it are outdated, see R2) (Official source)
• NWS Wilmington: Myrtle Beach water temperature by month (Springmaid Pier, 2005-2025) (Official source)
• Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: Atlantic sharpnose shark (Official source)
• SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)
• SC shark size and catch limits (eRegulations), last updated Aug 5, 2026 (Official source)

All the fish of Myrtle Beach