Can I Keep?Texas Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)
Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 35 saltwater species in Texas, from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.
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Official Texas regulations · Saltwater fishing license
Inshore
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| alligator Gar | Min Length: No limit; Max Length: No limit | 1 | — |
| Black drum | Min Length: 14 inches; Max Length: 30 inches | 5 | — |
| Channel and blue catfish, their hybrids and subspecies | Min Length: No limit; Max Length: No limit | 25 per person | — |
| Flathead catfish | Min Length: 18 inches; Max Length: No limit | 5 | — |
| Flounder (all species, their hybrids and subspecies) | Min Length: 15 inches; Max Length: No limit | 5 | Daily bag is 5 fish except Nov 1 - Dec 14 (fishery closed; bag limit… |
| Gafftopsail catfish | Min Length: 14 inches; Max Length: No limit | No limit | — |
| Mullet (all species, their hybrids and subspecies) | Min Length: No limit; Max Length: 12 inches (see below) | No limit | — |
| Red drum | Min Length: 20 inches; Max Length: 28 inches | 3 | — |
| Sheepshead | Min Length: 15 inches; Max Length: No limit | 5 | — |
| Snook | Min Length: 24 inches; Max Length: 28 inches | 1 | — |
| Spotted seatrout | Min Length: 15 inches; Max Length: 20 inches | 3 | — |
| Striped bass, its hybrids and subspecies | Min Length: 18 inches; Max Length: No limit | 5 (in any combination) | — |
| Tarpon | Min Length: 85 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 | — |
| Tripletail | Min Length: 17 inches; Max Length: No limit | 3 | — |
Reef fish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black grouper | Min Length: 24 inches; Max Length: No limit | 4 | — |
| Gag grouper | Min Length: 24 inches; Max Length: No limit | 2 | — |
| Goliath grouper (formerly called Jewfish) | — | 0 (catch and release only) | — |
| Gray triggerfish | Min Length: 16 inches; Max Length: No limit | 20 | — |
| greater Amberjack | Min Length: 38 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 | As of Sept.1, the 2026 Recreational Greater Amberjack Season in… |
| Lane snapper | Min Length: 8 inches; Max Length: No limit | No limit | — |
| Nassau grouper | — | 0 (catch and release only) | — |
| Red snapper (2 rules) | 16-in minimum | 2 fish per person daily | Opens: May 22, 2026 | Closes: In-season harvest will be monitored to… |
| Vermilion snapper | Min Length: 10 inches; Max Length: No limit | No limit | — |
Offshore & pelagic
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue marlin | Min Length: 131 inches; Max Length: No limit | No limit | — |
| Cobia | Min Length: 40 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 | — |
| King mackerel | Min Length: 27 inches; Max Length: No limit | 3 | — |
| Sailfish | Min Length: 84 inches; Max Length: No limit | No limit | — |
| Spanish mackerel | Min Length: 14 inches; Max Length: No limit | 15 | — |
| White marlin | Min Length: 86 inches; Max Length: No limit | No limit | — |
Other species
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic sharpnose shark | Min Length: 24 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 per person | — |
| Blacktip shark | Min Length: 24 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 per person | — |
| Bonnethead shark | Min Length: 24 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 per person | — |
| Hammerhead shark (smooth, great, scalloped) | Min Length: 99 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 per person | — |
| Other allowable shark species | Min Length: 64 inches; Max Length: No limit | 1 per person | — |
| Prohibited shark species | — | 0 (catch and release only) | — |