In early June, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) released a statement reminding anglers that shore-based shark fishing regulations imposed in 2025 are still in effect. The regulations banned shark fishing from shore with specific gear along a large portion of the Bay State’s coast to deter white shark encounters on the beaches of Cape Cod Bay and the Cape’s eastern shore. Recreational shore-based shark anglers from Buzzards Bay to the south side of Cape Cod (as far east as Chatham), and Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket, were not affected. But that changed on Friday, July 31, when Massachusetts DMF expanded the state’s existing shore-based shark fishing restrictions to include Nantucket following multiple reports of shore fishermen catching and releasing white sharks on the island.
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According to a press release from the DMF, “Nantucket was not included in the initial rule because its beaches have a long history of shore-based fishing for a variety of other shark species and there was little evidence to suggest anglers were targeting white sharks from the town’s shoreline. However, throughout the spring and summer of 2026, there have been several documented incidents involving shore-based anglers targeting and catching white sharks on Nantucket and producing dangerous circumstances for swimmers and beachgoers.”
See the map below for areas affected by DMF’s shore-based shark fishing restrictions.
2026 Shore-Based Shark Fishing Restrictions in Massachusetts
Recreational shore anglers on Nantucket are still permitted to catch and release other shark species, like sandbar sharks, but stringent gear restrictions are now in place and will remain in effect for 90 days while DMF “considers permanently expanding the spatial extent of the existing rule for 2027.” Restrictions for recreational shore-based shark fishermen on Nantucket are as follows:
- Anglers are prohibited from using metal or wire leaders measuring 18-inches or greater in combination with hooks with a gap larger than 5/8-inch when fishing from the shoreline of the town of Nantucket.
- Chumming is restricted between sunrise and sunset
- The use of mechanized, compressed propulsion, or remote-controlled devices (such as drones and RC boats) to deploy baited hooks when shore-based fishing is restricted.
From now on, shark fishermen on Nantucket will have to either cast or paddle out baits and be very mindful of the gear they are using.
Read the full press release from Massachusetts DMF below or download it here.
Emergency Regulations Expand Shore-Based White Shark Fishing Restrictions to Town of Nantucket
July 31, 2026
The Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has filed emergency regulations to prohibit anglers from using metal or wire leaders measuring 18-inches or greater in combination with hooks with a gap larger than 5/8-inch when fishing from the shoreline of the town of Nantucket. This emergency action temporarily expands the geographic area of an existing regulation designed to curtail shore-based anglers from targeting white sharks around Cape Cod Bay and the eastern shore of Cape Cod (see map below). The emergency regulation will remain in effect for a period of 90 days and DMF will consider permanently expanding the spatial extent of the existing rule for 2027.
Massachusetts has become a seasonal destination for anglers seeking to target white sharks. Baiting and fishing for white sharks from shore poses unnecessary public safety risks and may be harmful or lethal to the shark. While other DMF regulations prohibit intentionally attracting and capturing white sharks from shore or for a vessel, discerning this from other lawful fishing activity can be challenging. This created a need for additional enforcement tools, particularly along the shoreline where the public safety risk is greatest and anglers are only likely to fish with heavy gear to target white sharks. Accordingly, in 2025, DMF adopted a new regulation that restricts certain hook and leader combinations used to target white sharks when shore-based fishing. Nantucket was not included in the initial rule because its beaches have a long history of shore-based fishing for a variety of other shark species and there was little evidence to suggest anglers were targeting white sharks from the town’s shoreline. However, throughout the spring and summer of 2026, there have been several documented incidents involving shore-based anglers targeting and catching white sharks on Nantucket and producing dangerous circumstances for swimmers and beachgoers. This acute public safety risk prompted today’s emergency action.
Shore-based anglers are not prevented from using conforming tackle to fish for other popular recreational shark species (e.g., brown sharks, sand tiger sharks). However, they are reminded that existing regulations restrict chumming from sunrise to sunset and prohibit the use of mechanized, compressed propulsion, or remote-controlled devices to deploy baited hooks when shore-based fishing.
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What do you know..More regulations..Soon you wont be allowed to fish for anything
My comment is awaiting moderation…There goes my freedom of speech too