Fish guide
Finetooth Shark
Carcharhinus isodon. Also called Finetooth.
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: migrates south when surface water drops below 68 F; Fernandina falls to about 68 F in November (NCEI). (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Georgia | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Northeast Florida | JFMAMJJASOND |
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
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: Up to 5 ft.
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: finetooth shark (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)
- 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)