Identifying Ridgeback Sharks

What to Look For

Ridgeback sharks get their name from the ridge of skin on their midback, between their dorsal fins. Common Atlantic ridgebacks include dusky, bignose, sandbar, night, silky, and Caribbean reef sharks. 

Most ridgebacks are prohibited species in the Atlantic. If you catch one, you must immediately release it with minimal harm to the shark. Exceptions include tiger and smoothhound sharks. You can recognize a tiger shark by its distinctive nose and stripes that fade as the shark ages. To identify a smoothhound, look for a ridge before the dorsal fin in addition to an interdorsal ridge. 

There are many species of sharks, and they can be difficult to correctly identify. Remember, if you don’t know, let it go. 

Safe Release Practices

Follow these steps to increase a sharks chances of survival after being released. 

1. Use heavy fishing tackle to minimize fight time. 
2. Keep the shark in the water. 
3. Use the leader to hold the shark boatside with its head facing into the current. 
4. Use a dehooking device to remove the hook. If removing the hook would put you or the shark in danger, cut the leader as close to the hook as you can with bolt cutters. 
5. Resuscitate a sluggish shark by allowing water to move over the gills until it can swim away on its own. 

Learn more about catch and release best practices

Additional Resources

• Prohibited Shark Identification Placard
• Shark Identification Placard
• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Compliance Guides
• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Bag Limits and Minimum Sizes
• Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permits