Fishermen are allowed to catch one shark per day or two sharks per vessel, whichever is less.
When fishing for sharks in Florida, nonresidents and residents can purchase either a 3-day, 7-day or 12-month license. They can purchase the recreational saltwater license by calling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or visiting its website (see Resources). They can also visit the county tax collectors office in the county where they will be fishing to obtain the license.
Fishermen are not allowed to fin or fillet shark until the boat reaches shore. Once on land, the shark must be measured. Measurements of the shark include total length, fork length and standard length.
In Florida, it is against the law to fish for, sell or exchange the following types of sharks: basking shark, whale shark, white shark, sand tiger shark and the bigeye sand tiger shark.
Sharks can be found in shallow waters along Florida's coastline, as well as in the open waters offshore.
Search for an isolated beach where there are limited tourists. Check parking to ensure you will be able to get your vehicle close to the beach. This will be important if you catch a shark and need to transport it to your vehicle.
