Shark questions

[fishaholic]

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.

[fluke - u]

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 ...

[fishaholic]

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.

[Bucktail]

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

[wb]

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!

[fellinger]

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

[fishaholic]

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.

[BigAl13]

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