Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier
A striped, blunt-headed offshore shark seen occasionally well off the Virginia coast in summer — a heavy-tackle boat catch under federal rules.
Typically present
Photo: Jessica Meeuwig — CC BY-SA 4.0
- Habitat
- Offshore waters
- Methods
- Offshore
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Eating
- fair
Identification
Look for
- Dark vertical bars/blotches along the sides (most visible on juveniles and sub-adults, fading with age) — the source of the common name
- Broad, blunt, wedge-shaped head
- Distinctively large, curved, serrated teeth
- Long upper tail lobe
Local waters
Offshore Virginia waters, typically well beyond the immediate coastline
Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by offshore boat.
When to fish
Warmer months, occasionally offshore — VIMS describes it as an occasional Virginia visitor, usually found at least 10-20 miles offshore, mostly sub-adults and adults (juveniles are born farther south and stay there in their first years).
Water temperature
The water, not the calendar, sets the season here — a warm October or a cold snap moves these bands.
Water temperature and the seasonsHow to catch it
Primarily a boat fishery here — typically fished by offshore boat. Technique notes for this species have not been written yet; the baits and rigs below are the documented starting points.
Bait & lures
- Large cut or live bait on heavy tackle, typically from a boat well offshore
On the table
Eat with caution — check current Virginia fish consumption advisories for the specific waterbody before eating.
- Federally confirmed open as of 2026-08-19, managed under the 'large coastal shark' complex: 54" fork-length minimum size, 1 shark total per vessel per trip. A real, if considerably reduced, Virginia presence: VIMS's own shark research page states tiger shark abundance in Virginia waters declined markedly from the 1970s into the 1990s and is now an occasional offshore visitor rather than the common coastal species it once was — not a species anyone should expect to catch regularly. Recreational anglers must hold a federal HMS Angling or Charterboat/Headboat permit *with a shark endorsement* to legally retain any shark species at all — most anglers fishing without one must release every shark regardless of that species' individual status, and Virginia (VMRC) rules may add further restrictions on top of federal ones. Anyone targeting sharks (from shore or a vessel) is also federally required to carry a device capable of quickly cutting the leader or hook. If removing the hook would delay release, cut the leader or hook as close to the hook as possible instead — the shark does not need to be lifted, dragged onto dry sand/a pier deck, or restrained to be released safely, and a shark should stay in the water throughout release whenever that's achievable.
Where to try
