Fish guide
Bonnethead
Sphyrna tiburo. Also called Bonnethead shark, Shovelhead.
Not a target here: FishOS has not checked the local shark fishing rules for FL yet. Release any shark caught by accident.
Showing the fish for Northeast Florida, Jacksonville to Flagler.
Season in Northeast Florida
Peak months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Florida Museum: needs water over 70 F; Fernandina water averages over 70 F from April to October (NCEI). (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
Florida rules: FWC's free Shore-based Shark Fishing permit is required for anglers 16 and older fishing for sharks from shore, piers, jetties or bridges; circle hooks with natural bait; no chumming from the beach. See the regulations file for limits.
Typical: 2 to 3 ft. Large: About 4 ft. SC record 27 lb 11 oz (Charleston, 2005).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the FL limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- 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)
- 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)