Spinner shark

Slender gray shark with a pointed snout and black tips on most fins (the anal fin tip is black, unlike a blacktip's). Famous for spinning leaps.

Most are around 8.2 ft (250 cm).

Up to about 10 ft (309 cm) long and 425 lb (193 kg). Source: FishBase

The spinner shark feeds mainly on open-water fish, plus small sharks, cuttlefish, squid and octopus.

It forms schools from close inshore to offshore and migrates a lot. It feeds by spinning up through schools of small fish with its mouth open and leaping out of the water.

Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida & Keys, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Bahamas & Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Georgia & South Carolina and North Carolina.

Beaches and nearshore water, often following mullet and menhaden runs.

From the surface down to 328 ft (100 m).

From waist-deep surf to reef edges and channels.

All year in South Florida; spring and summer are busiest along the Gulf.

Dusk and night are prime.

Moving water in passes and along beaches.

Fishable in most conditions you can handle safely.

Cut or live mullet, menhaden and bonito.

Will hit big spoons and plugs in bait schools.

Heavy spinning or conventional, 50–80 lb class.

10/0–16/0 non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks (required when shark fishing in Florida and federal waters with natural bait).

50–80 lb braid or mono.

Wire or heavy cable leader longer than the shark.

Fish chunks in the surf or near bait schools; expect jumps.

Learn to tell spinners and blacktips apart — the rules can differ.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Good eating when fresh.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.

Never pull a shark onto the sand by the tail or bring large sharks aboard. Cut the leader close to the hook if you can't remove it safely.

Florida and federal shark rules set size and bag limits; a federal HMS shark endorsement is needed in federal waters, and a Florida shore-based shark fishing permit is required from the beach. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.

Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.