Fish guide
Bonnethead
Sphyrna tiburo. Also called Bonnethead shark, Shovelhead.
Not a target here: FishOS has not checked the local shark fishing rules for TX yet. Release any shark caught by accident.
Showing the fish for Upper Texas coast, Galveston.
Season in Upper Texas
TPWD Sea Rim tip sheet: bonnethead group in the surf in summer. (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
The summer surf (TPWD Sea Rim).
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
See Texas shark rules.
Typical: 2 to 3 ft. Large: About 4 ft. SC record 27 lb 11 oz (Charleston, 2005).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the TX limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department before you keep a fish.
Sources
- TPWD Sea Rim State Park fishing tip sheet, PWD LF P4504-055I (1/26), with a surf/marsh season column per species (Official source)
- Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: bonnethead (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- SCDNR Marine Resources Division: Sharks of South Carolina (2004 field guide; limits in it are outdated, see R2) (Official source)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)