NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums

NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports and Information => Helping Each Other Out => Topic started by: fishaholic on September 12, 2015, 10:12:32 AM

Title: Shark questions
Post by: fishaholic on September 12, 2015, 10:12:32 AM

This is a basic question but I am wanting to know the truth. Yesterday 9/11/15 I was out with some friends. Only 1 has ever fished before and is a "know it all" but some of what he stated was different than I remember from when I used to go out regularly (but that has been 15 years lol). We were catching many small sharks. I remember them being called sand sharks before.  Can some one please inform me if that is the true name? Also is there a regulation on them? They seemed to be everywhere down off of Cape May. Some tiny about 12" others 16-18". I have heard them referred to as dogfish, sharks, sand sharks and just want to know what exactly they are and if you can keep them. My wife wants to try them, I want to try them and they seem to be very plentiful. Thank you for any help.

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: fluke - u on September 12, 2015, 12:01:50 PM

The dusky smooth-hound or smooth dogfish is a species of houndshark, and part of the family Triakidae. This shark is an olive grey or brown in color, and may have shades of yellow or grayish white

As quoted by Wikpedia, never ate one but they make great bait when stripped out ... TT^

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: fishaholic on September 12, 2015, 01:18:12 PM

I have added a photo of the ones we were catching all day long. In EVERY spot we stopped at these little guys were present.

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: Bucktail on September 12, 2015, 03:46:23 PM

Dogfish.  As a kid we used to call them sand sharks too.

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: wb on September 14, 2015, 01:02:33 PM

I caught one the other day that was 34" long. Felt like a bluefish or striper coming in. 

They are one of the required species to complete the garbagefish trifecta, good luck! slt

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: fellinger on September 14, 2015, 05:08:42 PM

They are taken in quantity by commercial fisherman. They are what most "Fish N Chips" are made of. At least in the UK.

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: fishaholic on September 15, 2015, 09:37:50 PM

Are there any size limit or quantity on them? They are the Spiny Dogfish correct? I seen a no closed season on smooth listed in the NJ regulations however I did not see anything about the spiny ones listed.  Thanks I appreciate the help.

Title: Re: Shark questions
Post by: BigAl13 on September 16, 2015, 05:52:43 AM

the spiny dogfish has a spike right next to the dorsal fin, other than that they are pretty similar to the smooth dogfish

http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/sdogfish/

http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/recfishing/regs/index.html

http://www.eregulations.com/newjersey/fishing/saltwater/state-size-possession-limits/


these are the most recent regs I could find on both species. There is NO limit and or closed season for either, commercial limit is 3,000lbs per day I wish it was 300,000,000