In north Carolina unfortunately each boat can keep one a day as long as they are 54 inches . Most guys after killing them take pictures , cut out the belly strips for bait and dump them overboard . They are not catch and release unless you cut them off at the hook which is easy to do once they have calmed down with a long wire cutter and even if gut hooked they will survive to fight again..I'll never understand that mentality and if you are bottom fishing you should expect to catch a lot of sharks .What a waste ...Frank