Fish guide
Bonnethead
Sphyrna tiburo. Also called Bonnethead shark, Shovelhead.
Not a target here: FishOS has not checked the local shark fishing rules for GA yet. Release any shark caught by accident.
Showing the fish for Georgia coast, GA.
Season in Georgia
Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
SCDNR MRRI arrival and departure temperatures placed on Fort Pulaski averages (NCEI). Florida Museum: needs water over 70 F. GA DNR winter: sharks leave the sounds. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Upper Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Inlet mouths, oyster edges, jetty ends and the beach close to inlets in summer.
On the bottom near oyster edges, inlet mouths and jetties.
What to look for
Small shark with a rounded, shovel-shaped head (not a hammer).
Bait
Live or cut blue crab (the top bait), Shrimp, Cut crab. Carolina rig with about 1 oz of weight, 12 to 18 in of 50 to 60 lb mono leader, 2/0 to 4/0 non-offset, non-stainless circle hook.
Leader
50 to 60 lb monofilament, 12 to 18 in (they crush crabs; teeth are small).
Common mistakes
- Fishing big cut fish when they want crab
- Dragging the shark up the dry sand
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
No county shore shark ban was found for the Georgia coast. Georgia shark rules apply; see the regulations file.
Typical: 2 to 3 ft. Large: About 4 ft. SC record 27 lb 11 oz (Charleston, 2005).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the GA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division before you keep a fish.
Sources
- SCDNR Marine Resources Research Institute: shark research (estuary arrival and departure temperatures) (Official source)
- Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: bonnethead (Official source)
- NOAA NCEI Coastal Water Temperature Guide, all-stations monthly averages (Charleston Cooper River Entrance, Fort Pulaski, Gray's Reef, Fernandina Beach, Mayport, St. Augustine, Trident Pier Port Canaveral, Lake Worth Pier, Fowey Rocks, Virginia Key, Vaca Key, Key West) (Official source)
- Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division, Coastlines Dec 2024: Ask a CRD Pro, tips for winter fishing (Official source)
- Carolina Sportsman: a different kind of bonnet (bonnethead fishing, SC) (Angler knowledge)
- SCDNR Marine Resources Division: Sharks of South Carolina (2004 field guide; limits in it are outdated, see R2) (Official source)
- SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)