A GUIDE TO TEXAS COMMERCIAL
FISHING INDUSTRY REGULATIONS
Commercial fishing is any activity involving taking or handling fresh or saltwater aquatic products for pay or
for the purpose of barter, sale or exchange.
This publication is a summary of regulations for the commercial fishing industry in Texas and is designed
as a guide only. Regulations concerning sport fishing are contained in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor
Annual which is available free of charge from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offices and from
bait, tackle and sporting goods dealers where fishing licenses are sold.
More detailed information concerning commercial fishing industry regulations can be obtained from
TPWD game wardens or any law enforcement office of TPWD.
IMPORTANT NOTICES ...............................................................................................................................................
2
OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE REGULATIONS .......................................................................................................
3
GENERAL REGULATIONS.........................................................................................................................................
3
Rules Requiring Draining of Water ...............................................................................................................
3
Civil Restitution .................................................................................................................................................
4
Possession of Prohibited Fishing Devices...................................................................................................
4
Definitions ...........................................................................................................................................................
4
Freshwater and Saltwater Devices, Means and Methods .......................................................................
7
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................
12
Recreational License Requirements for Commercial Fishermen .........................................................
12
Shrimp, Crab, Finfish and Oyster License Management .........................................................................
12
General Licenses ...............................................................................................................................................
12
Bait Dealers’ Licenses ......................................................................................................................................
14
Other Business Licenses and Permits .........................................................................................................
15
Boat Licenses .....................................................................................................................................................
16
Harvester/Shell Recovery Tags .....................................................................................................................
17
PURCHASE OF AQUATIC PRODUCTS FOR RESALE .........................................................................................
17
SHIPPING REGULATIONS .........................................................................................................................................
18
Aquatic Product Transportation Invoices ...................................................................................................
18
Interstate Transportation ...............................................................................................................................
18
Containers ...........................................................................................................................................................
18
Licenses ...............................................................................................................................................................
18
RECORDS .....................................................................................................................................................................
19
Commercial Harvest Reports .........................................................................................................................
19
MARKING OF VEHICLES ...........................................................................................................................................
20
IMPORTATION REGULATIONS ................................................................................................................................
20
Commercially Protected Fish .........................................................................................................................
20
FRESHWATER/SALTWATER BOUNDARY ............................................................................................................
22
FISH ...............................................................................................................................................................................
23
General Regulations .........................................................................................................................................
23
Prohibited Acts in all Public Waters .............................................................................................................
23
Sale of Fish — Fresh Water..............................................................................................................................
23
Sale of Fish — Salt Water .................................................................................................................................
24
Texas State Waters — Federal Waters .........................................................................................................
25
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) for Red Snapper .......................................................................................
25
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Gulf Menhaden ......................................................................................
25
Padre Island National Seashore — Special Regulations ...........................................................................
25
How to Measure Fish and Crabs ....................................................................................................................
25
Commercial Bag, Possession and Length Limits ......................................................................................
26
SHRIMP .........................................................................................................................................................................
27
General Regulations .........................................................................................................................................
27
Display Boat Numbers......................................................................................................................................
28
Method of Net Measurement .........................................................................................................................
28
Special Regulations (Bay and Bait Shrimping) ..........................................................................................
28
Waters Defined ..................................................................................................................................................
29
Map of Gulf Shrimp Fishery Management Zones ......................................................................................
30
Outside Waters ..................................................................................................................................................
31
Inside Waters ......................................................................................................................................................
34
BRD and TED Illustrations ............................................................................................................................... 36-40
CRABS ...........................................................................................................................................................................
41
OYSTERS ......................................................................................................................................................................
44
MUSSELS AND CLAMS .............................................................................................................................................
45
SEA TURTLES AND OTHER AQUATIC LIFE .........................................................................................................
45
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL VALUE RECOVERY ....................................................................................
45
222
FISHING INDUSTRY REGULATIONS
Commercial fishing is any activity involving taking or handling fresh or saltwater aquatic products for pay or
for the purpose of barter, sale or exchange.
This publication is a summary of regulations for the commercial fishing industry in Texas and is designed
as a guide only. Regulations concerning sport fishing are contained in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor
Annual which is available free of charge from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offices and from
bait, tackle and sporting goods dealers where fishing licenses are sold.
More detailed information concerning commercial fishing industry regulations can be obtained from
TPWD game wardens or any law enforcement office of TPWD.
IMPORTANT NOTICES ...............................................................................................................................................
2
OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE REGULATIONS .......................................................................................................
3
GENERAL REGULATIONS.........................................................................................................................................
3
Rules Requiring Draining of Water ...............................................................................................................
3
Civil Restitution .................................................................................................................................................
4
Possession of Prohibited Fishing Devices...................................................................................................
4
Definitions ...........................................................................................................................................................
4
Freshwater and Saltwater Devices, Means and Methods .......................................................................
7
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................
12
Recreational License Requirements for Commercial Fishermen .........................................................
12
Shrimp, Crab, Finfish and Oyster License Management .........................................................................
12
General Licenses ...............................................................................................................................................
12
Bait Dealers’ Licenses ......................................................................................................................................
14
Other Business Licenses and Permits .........................................................................................................
15
Boat Licenses .....................................................................................................................................................
16
Harvester/Shell Recovery Tags .....................................................................................................................
17
PURCHASE OF AQUATIC PRODUCTS FOR RESALE .........................................................................................
17
SHIPPING REGULATIONS .........................................................................................................................................
18
Aquatic Product Transportation Invoices ...................................................................................................
18
Interstate Transportation ...............................................................................................................................
18
Containers ...........................................................................................................................................................
18
Licenses ...............................................................................................................................................................
18
RECORDS .....................................................................................................................................................................
19
Commercial Harvest Reports .........................................................................................................................
19
MARKING OF VEHICLES ...........................................................................................................................................
20
IMPORTATION REGULATIONS ................................................................................................................................
20
Commercially Protected Fish .........................................................................................................................
20
FRESHWATER/SALTWATER BOUNDARY ............................................................................................................
22
FISH ...............................................................................................................................................................................
23
General Regulations .........................................................................................................................................
23
Prohibited Acts in all Public Waters .............................................................................................................
23
Sale of Fish — Fresh Water..............................................................................................................................
23
Sale of Fish — Salt Water .................................................................................................................................
24
Texas State Waters — Federal Waters .........................................................................................................
25
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) for Red Snapper .......................................................................................
25
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Gulf Menhaden ......................................................................................
25
Padre Island National Seashore — Special Regulations ...........................................................................
25
How to Measure Fish and Crabs ....................................................................................................................
25
Commercial Bag, Possession and Length Limits ......................................................................................
26
SHRIMP .........................................................................................................................................................................
27
General Regulations .........................................................................................................................................
27
Display Boat Numbers......................................................................................................................................
28
Method of Net Measurement .........................................................................................................................
28
Special Regulations (Bay and Bait Shrimping) ..........................................................................................
28
Waters Defined ..................................................................................................................................................
29
Map of Gulf Shrimp Fishery Management Zones ......................................................................................
30
Outside Waters ..................................................................................................................................................
31
Inside Waters ......................................................................................................................................................
34
BRD and TED Illustrations ............................................................................................................................... 36-40
CRABS ...........................................................................................................................................................................
41
OYSTERS ......................................................................................................................................................................
44
MUSSELS AND CLAMS .............................................................................................................................................
45
SEA TURTLES AND OTHER AQUATIC LIFE .........................................................................................................
45
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL VALUE RECOVERY ....................................................................................
45
222