Fish guide
Spiny Dogfish (non-target)
Squalus acanthias. Also called Dogfish, Dogs.
Common bait thief in spring and late fall; listed so you can identify it. Not a target. A spine in front of each dorsal fin.
Showing the fish for Rhode Island and Narragansett Bay, RI.
Season in Rhode Island
ecoRI News (2024): spiny dogfish migrate into local waters in the warmer months and some remain through the winter. No month data. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Maine | JFMAMJJASOND |
| New Hampshire | JFMAMJJASOND |
| North Shore MA | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Rhode Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| North Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Virginia Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Outer Banks | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
South Shore surf and nearshore water in spring and late fall as the packs pass.
Anywhere, often in packs.
Handling
- Sharp spine in front of each dorsal fin
- Rough skin
Hold it behind the head clear of both spines, or pin it with a towel; unhook with pliers or cut the line.
Keep or release
Usually released. NOAA calls US wild-caught dogfish a good seafood choice; New York lists it as a shark that may be kept under the shark rules.
Typical: unknown. Large: Males to 3.3 ft, females to 4 ft.
Limits
FishOS has not checked the RI limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Rhode Island DEM Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.
Sources
- ecoRI News: Plentiful and ferocious shark lurks in local waters (Jan 2024) (Angler knowledge)
- NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-150: EFH source document, spiny dogfish (1999) (Official source)
- NOAA Fisheries: Atlantic spiny dogfish (Official source)