2017-2018 Texas Commercial Fishing Guide
31
OUTSIDE WATERS
Commercial Gulf-Shrimp Boats — Closed
Seasons, Limits and Gear Restrictions
Closed Seasons:
• Federal Waters (from 9 nautical miles to
200 nautical miles from the Texas Coast),
shrimping is closed:
• from May 15** – July 15**
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The rules
regarding the Summer Closed Season
for Federal Waters off Texas may have
changed prior to publication of this
guide. For current rules, please call the
National Marine Fisheries Service at
(727) 824-5305 or contact your nearest TPWD Law Enforcement office.
• Within 5 nautical miles of the Texas
coast (Zones N1, N2, S1, S2), shrimping is
closed:
• at night (30 minutes after sunset to 30
minutes before sunrise)
• from Dec. 1 – Feb. 15
• Within 5 nautical miles of the Texas
coast in the South Zone (Zones S1, S2),
shrimping is closed:
• from Feb. 16 – May 15**
• Within 9 nautical miles of the Texas
coast (Zones N1, N2, N3, S1, S2, S3),
shrimping is closed:
• from 30 minutes after sunset May 15**
to 30 minutes after sunset July 15**
**SPECIAL NOTICE: These dates may be
changed by the department providing 72
hours public notice on new closing dates and
24 hours notice on new opening dates.
Net Limitations:
• Net Type I:
• Trawl Size: Otter trawls must have
doors at least 3 feet long as measured
along the door centerline from leading
tip of door to trailing edge of door; and
each net cannot exceed any of the
following dimensions as measured
along an uninterrupted corkline from
leading tip of door to leading tip of
door including any and all add-on
devices or attachments to the corkline.
• Net Dimensions:
Door Length (ft.)
Total Width (ft.)
3' or more but less than 4'
71'
4' or more but less than 5'
73'
5' or more but less than 6'
75'
6' or more but less than 7'
77'
7' or more but less than 8'
79'
8' or more but less than 9'
81'
9' or more but less than 10'
83'
10' or more but less than 11'
85'
11' or more but less than 12'
87'
12' or more
89'
• Net Type II:
• Trawl Size: Otter trawls must have
doors at least 3 feet long as measured
along the door centerline from leading
tip of door to trailing edge of door; and
each net cannot exceed any of the
following dimensions as measured
along an uninterrupted corkline from
leading tip of door to leading tip of
door including any and all add-on
devices or attachments to the corkline.
• Net Dimensions:
Door Length (ft.)
Total Width (ft.)
3' or more but less than 4'
40'
4' or more but less than 5'
42'
5' or more but less than 6'
44'
6' or more but less than 7'
46'
7' or more but less than 8'
48'
8' or more but less than 9'
50'
9' or more but less than 10'
52'
10' or more
54'
• Seabob Net:
• Trawl Size: Otter trawls must have
doors at least 3 feet long as measured
along the door centerline from leading
tip of door to trailing edge of door; and
each net cannot exceed any of the
following dimensions as measured
along an uninterrupted corkline from
leading tip of door to leading tip of
door including any and all add-on
devices or attachments to the corkline.
• Net Dimensions:
Door Length (ft.)
Total Width (ft.)
3' or more but less than 4'
48'
4' or more but less than 5'
50'
5' or more but less than 6'
52'
6' or more but less than 7'
54'
7' or more but less than 8'
56'
8' or more but less than 9'
58'
9' or more but less than 10'
60'
10' or more
62'
• Try Nets (Gulf and Inshore – Bay Shrimping):
• Otter Trawls:
• Total width: 21 feet
• Doors: 450 square inches
• Beam Trawls: May not exceed 10 feet in
width
• Try Nets (Inshore – Bait Shrimping):
• Otter Trawls:
• Total width: 12 feet
• Doors: 450 square inches
• Beam Trawls: May not exceed 5 feet in
width
See tables on pages 32-33 for open seasons,
limits and requirements for the Southern
and Northern Zones for Commercial GulfShrimp Boats.
252