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Fish guide

Finetooth Shark

Carcharhinus isodon. Also called Finetooth.

A slender gray finetooth shark with plain, unmarked fins swimming over sand

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: Jun, Jul, Aug.

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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. Florida Museum: common off SC in the warm months, migrates south when surface water drops below 20 C (68 F). SCDNR receivers detected finetooth March to December. (Our inference)

Where to find them

Shallow beach water and the first trough in summer, especially where mullet or menhaden are in the wash.

Close in: schools sometimes chase mullet and menhaden into the surf.

What to look for

Slender gray or bronze shark with plain fins (no black tips) and a short, narrowly rounded snout.

Bait

Live or fresh cut mullet, Cut menhaden (bunker), Cut spot. 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; non-offset circle hook.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking it for a blacktip or spinner: finetooth fins are unmarked
  • 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

Where shore shark fishing is legal: SC minimum 54 in fork length and 1 shark per vessel per trip for this group, so nearly every shark from the beach is released. Banned from shore on the Horry County coast.

Typical: 2 to 3 ft. Large: Up to 5 ft.

South Carolina limits

  • Minimum: 54 in FL
  • Maximum: none
  • Bag: 1 shark per vessel per trip (the limit SC publishes for its blacktip, bull, finetooth, spinner and other large coastal 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
  • Sandbar sharks look like blacktips and bull sharks and are prohibited: if unsure, release it in the water

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

Sources

All the fish

Finetooth Shark: season, lures and limits | FishOS