Robust grey reef shark with a short, rounded snout, that rests on the bottom and hunts fish. Vulnerable (VU) on the national list and Endangered (EN) worldwide: capture banned in Brazil.
Also called: tubarão-coralino, cação-coralino, tubarão-de-recife-caribenho, cação-de-recife-caribenho
The Caribbean reef shark (tubarão-coralino), also called tubarão-de-recife-caribenho, is a large grey shark that lives on the continental and island shelves of the western Atlantic, from Florida to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles. It patrols reef edges and the drop-offs of the slope, usually at less than 30 m, and sometimes rests on the bottom. It eats bony fish, such as bigeyes (Priacanthidae). Females bear live young, born at less than 73 cm. It is Vulnerable (VU) on the national list, where the species appears under the name Carcharhinus perezi, and Endangered (EN) in the IUCN global assessment (2019). FishBase lists it as potentially dangerous to divers. Do not seek out the species.
fun facts
Eats bony fish, such as bigeyes (Priacanthidae), according to FishBase.
May rest on the bottom, according to FishBase.
FishBase records a failed attack on divers in the Caribbean by a Caribbean reef shark.
The national list spells the scientific name with one 'i' (perezi); FishBase uses perezii.
how to recognize it
identification
Grey shark with a robust body, short, blunt snout, a skin ridge between the two dorsal fins and a small first dorsal fin with a short rear tip. Serrated teeth. It resembles other Carcharhinus with an interdorsal ridge (dusky shark, barriga-d'água, Galapagos shark), and safe identification is difficult, even for specialists. Living near reefs helps tell it apart from open-sea sharks. If the shark has a ridge between the dorsal fins and you are unsure, release it.
how caribbean reef shark fishing looks
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Western Atlantic from Florida to southern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Antilles (FishBase). In Brazil, it occurs where there is reef, on the continental and island shelf. On FishBase's country list: from Mexico to the Caribbean and Venezuela, plus Brazil.
Habitat: Reef edges and slope breaks on continental and island shelves, usually less than 30 m; may rest on the bottom.
coast
North CoastNortheast CoastSoutheast CoastSouth Coastcoastalshelf
calendar and clock
when to fish
best season
time of year
JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Estimate: present year-round where there is reef; the weights are neutral. Capture is banned all year.
best time of day
Any time. There is no reliable data on daily activity timing in Brazil; FishBase only says it may rest on the bottom.
weather, water and behavior
what affects the caribbean reef shark
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.
cold and cold fronts
A warm-water species; cold water reduces its activity.
atmospheric pressure
Little known effect.
moon
No known effect.
rain
Not very relevant.
water level
Not applicable at sea.
noise
Little known; on the reef it tends to be curious around divers.
wind
Rough seas make any trip hard.
tide
Tide and current move water along the reef edges, where the species patrols.
depth
Usually less than 30 m; down to about 65 m.
technique, gear and bait
how to fish
rod
Catch banned in Brazil; there is no recommended gear for targeting the species.
spinning / baitcasting reel
Not applicable.
line
Not applicable.
leader
Not applicable. If a shark takes the steel leader, cut close to the mouth when releasing it.
hook
Barbless circle hook (or one with the barb flattened) for any open-sea fishing: it comes out more easily and causes less injury.
accessories
cutting pliers
long-handled hook remover
thick gloves
tip from an angler
When fishing the bottom over reef, use a circle hook without barb: it makes it easier to release what cannot be kept. If a Caribbean reef shark bites, keep it in the water and cut the line flush with the hook.
what the law says
rules for the caribbean reef shark
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency. Conservation: On the national list of threatened species as VU, under the spelling Carcharhinus perezi (already on the previous list). Global: Endangered (EN, criterion A2bcd, assessed 01/07/2019 by the IUCN). The whole family Carcharhinidae has been in Appendix II of CITES since 25/11/2023.
Threatened species in Brazil: catch banned
full protection
The national list (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026) classifies the species (spelled Carcharhinus perezi on the list) as VU. Under Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.666/2026 (art. 3), species listed as VU, EN and CR have full protection: capture, transport, storage, processing and sale are banned. If you hook one by accident, release it right away, with minimal handling.
Finning prohibited: shark only whole, with its fins
fins naturally attached to the body
In Brazil, finning is banned: cutting off the fins and discarding the rest of the body. The rule covers landing, transport, and trade by fishing vessels: every shark or ray must arrive whole, with its fins naturally attached to the body (partially folding them against the body is allowed); carrying an animal aboard without fins or with loose fins, and transferring sharks and rays between vessels, is prohibited. This does not authorize catching this species, which is banned.
1 specimen per angler per day (counts as 5 against the quota of 10)
In recreational sport fishing in Mexican saltwaters, the limit for sharks is one specimen per angler per day, which counts as five toward the total limit of ten fish. Fish caught in sport fishing may not be sold. Catch and release does not count toward the limit: prefer releasing.
Puerto Rico (USA): retention of the Caribbean reef shark banned for HMS license holders
retention banned; release alive
In NOAA Fisheries' compliance guide for recreational Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) fishing, the Caribbean reef shark is on the prohibited retention list: it must be released. The rule applies to HMS license holders wherever they fish, and includes the US Caribbean. The guide says to release any shark with an interdorsal ridge when identification is in doubt. Confirm Puerto Rico's local rules with the competent agency.
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
This is not catch and release: it is release of accidental catch. Keep the shark in the water, beside the boat or the rock, and cut the line as close to the hook as possible. Do not lift it by the tail or take photos out of the water.
in the kitchen
Capture and trade banned in Brazil. In other countries the meat is prepared salted and dried, the leather and liver oil are used, and the carcasses become fishmeal (FishBase), but the species is Endangered: release it.
calculator
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00525, b = 3.08; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
The seasonal weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on field experience from anglers and guides. The water temperature range and the common size range are also editorial estimates, supported by FishBase. The months show when an angler usually finds the species, not a catch season. They are not official data or measurements made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
scientificFishBase: Carcharhinus perezii (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology and IUCN status. Page checked on 13/10/2026. The common size range is editorial: FishBase gives only the size at maturity (152 to 168 cm). The common weight was calculated from the length-weight relationship in the profile (lw) at the ends of the common size range.
