Fish guide
Smooth Dogfish (non-target)
Mustelus canis. Also called Smooth dog, Smooth-hound, Dogfish, Sand shark.
Common warm-month bycatch; hardly any bait a smoothhound will not bite (DNREC).
Showing the fish for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia ocean coast.
Season in Delmarva
DNREC: abundant in Delaware waters, shallow water under 60 ft; Florida Museum seasonal migration. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Cape Cod | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Rhode Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Connecticut | JFMAMJJASOND |
| North Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Summer bays, harbors and the Sound on any bottom bait, especially crab and chunks.
Bottom, from the surf zone to the bays.
Handling
- Rough skin
- Strong twisting
Keep it in the water if releasing; unhook with pliers or cut the line close to the hook.
Keep or release
Usually released.
Typical: 24 to 36 in. Large: unknown.
Limits
FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.
Sources
- DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Smoothhound (Smooth Dogfish) (Official source)
- Florida Museum: smooth dogfish species profile (Official source)
- Bigelow and Schroeder, Fishes of the Gulf of Maine (online text): smooth dogfish (Official source)
- Atlantic Shark Institute: smooth dogfish (Official source)