Fish guide
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas.
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: bull sharks move north along the coast in summer and return south as coastal water cools. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Alabama | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Lower Texas | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Deep holes and drop-offs at inlets and sounds, and the bottom off the beach in summer.
On the bottom in deeper holes, inlet mouths and drop-offs.
What to look for
Very stout gray shark with a short, broad, rounded snout and small eyes; no ridge between the dorsal fins.
Bait
Large cut menhaden or mullet, Cut stingray, Large cut bluefish. Heavy fish-finder rig with a 6 to 16 oz spider weight, steel or heavy mono leader, large non-offset, non-stainless circle hook (around 16/0), 100 to 200 lb line.
Leader
Soft steel or heavy wire leader; circle hooks around 16/0.
Common mistakes
- Fishing gear too light to end the fight quickly
- Trying to land a big shark on the sand instead of releasing it in the water
- Putting hands near the mouth
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: 6 to 8 ft. Large: Over 10 ft. SC record 477 lb 12 oz (Stono Inlet, 1985).
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: bull shark (Official source)
- 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)