According to Alabama’s Press-Register three out of the seven sharks that were brought into the scales at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo were disqualified, because they were a federally protected species. The three disqualified shark were sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus), which are federally protected due to having been over-fished, according to University of South Alabama fisheries scientist Dr. Marcus Dryman.

Sandbar sharks are known for their relatively tall dorsal fins. Dryman also noted that the species is easily distinguished by a distinct dorsal ridge that runs between the first and second dorsal fins.