26
2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
COMMERCIAL BAG, POSSESSION AND LENGTH LIMITS
Minimum
Maximum
Bag
Possession
Length
Length
Species
Limit
Limit
(Inches)
(Inches)
Amberjack, greater
1
2
38
No limit
Drum, black a
No limit
No limit
14
30
Catfish: blue and
25 b
50
14
No limit
channel
(In any
(In any
combination)
combination)
Catfish, gafftopsail
No limit
No limit
14
No limit
Cobia
2
4
37
No limit
Flounder c
30/2 c
30/2 c
14
No limit
Gar, alligator d
1 e
2 e
No limit
No limit
Grouper, black
4
8
24
No limit
Grouper, gag
2
4
24
No limit
Grouper, Nassau
0
0
Catch and
Catch and
release only
release only
Mackerel, king
2
4
27
No limit
Mackerel, Spanish
15
30
14
No limit
Mullet: all species
No limit
No limit
No limit
12
their hybrids and
during Oct., Nov.,
subspecies f
Dec. & Jan.
Shark:
1
Atlantic sharpnose,
See Special
2
24
No limit
blacktip, bonnethead
Regulation g below
Allowable shark species
64
No limit
Hammerhead (smooth,
1
2
99
No limit
great, scalloped)
Prohibited shark species h
0
0
Catch and
Catch and
release only
release only
Sheepshead a
No limit
No limit
15
No limit
Snapper, lane
No limit
No limit
8
No limit
Snapper, red i
4
8
15
No limit
Snapper, vermilion
No limit
No limit
10
No limit
Triggerfish, gray
20
40
16
No limit
Tripletail
3
6
17
No limit
a Only the holder of a commercial finfish fisherman’s license is exempt from recreational bag and
possession limits while commercial fishing for black drum or sheepshead.
b Exceptions to catfish daily bag limit:
1) in Lake Livingston (Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties) the daily bag limit for channel
and blue catfish is 50 in any combination;
2) in lakes lying totally within a state park and community fishing lakes (see the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Outdoor Annual), the daily bag limit for channel and blue catfish is 5 in any combination
and fish may be taken by pole and line only.
c Flounder Special Regulation: Daily bag is 30 fish except from Nov. 1-30, when the daily bag limit is 2
fish (flounder may be taken only by pole-and-line); and from December 1-14, when the daily bag limit is
2 fish (flounder may be taken by any legal means). Possession limit is equal to the daily bag.
On board a licensed commercial shrimp boat the limit is equal to the recreational limit per each person with a current shrimp boat captain’s license and is subject to the 50% bycatch rule
(See Page 27 — SHRIMP)
247
2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
COMMERCIAL BAG, POSSESSION AND LENGTH LIMITS
Minimum
Maximum
Bag
Possession
Length
Length
Species
Limit
Limit
(Inches)
(Inches)
Amberjack, greater
1
2
38
No limit
Drum, black a
No limit
No limit
14
30
Catfish: blue and
25 b
50
14
No limit
channel
(In any
(In any
combination)
combination)
Catfish, gafftopsail
No limit
No limit
14
No limit
Cobia
2
4
37
No limit
Flounder c
30/2 c
30/2 c
14
No limit
Gar, alligator d
1 e
2 e
No limit
No limit
Grouper, black
4
8
24
No limit
Grouper, gag
2
4
24
No limit
Grouper, Nassau
0
0
Catch and
Catch and
release only
release only
Mackerel, king
2
4
27
No limit
Mackerel, Spanish
15
30
14
No limit
Mullet: all species
No limit
No limit
No limit
12
their hybrids and
during Oct., Nov.,
subspecies f
Dec. & Jan.
Shark:
1
Atlantic sharpnose,
See Special
2
24
No limit
blacktip, bonnethead
Regulation g below
Allowable shark species
64
No limit
Hammerhead (smooth,
1
2
99
No limit
great, scalloped)
Prohibited shark species h
0
0
Catch and
Catch and
release only
release only
Sheepshead a
No limit
No limit
15
No limit
Snapper, lane
No limit
No limit
8
No limit
Snapper, red i
4
8
15
No limit
Snapper, vermilion
No limit
No limit
10
No limit
Triggerfish, gray
20
40
16
No limit
Tripletail
3
6
17
No limit
a Only the holder of a commercial finfish fisherman’s license is exempt from recreational bag and
possession limits while commercial fishing for black drum or sheepshead.
b Exceptions to catfish daily bag limit:
1) in Lake Livingston (Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties) the daily bag limit for channel
and blue catfish is 50 in any combination;
2) in lakes lying totally within a state park and community fishing lakes (see the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Outdoor Annual), the daily bag limit for channel and blue catfish is 5 in any combination
and fish may be taken by pole and line only.
c Flounder Special Regulation: Daily bag is 30 fish except from Nov. 1-30, when the daily bag limit is 2
fish (flounder may be taken only by pole-and-line); and from December 1-14, when the daily bag limit is
2 fish (flounder may be taken by any legal means). Possession limit is equal to the daily bag.
On board a licensed commercial shrimp boat the limit is equal to the recreational limit per each person with a current shrimp boat captain’s license and is subject to the 50% bycatch rule
(See Page 27 — SHRIMP)
247