REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 41
Species
Daily Bag
Length in Inches
(Minimum — Maximum)
Marlin, blue
No limit
131 — No limit
Marlin, white
No limit
86 — No limit
Mullet: all species, their hybrids
No limit
No limit — 12 d
and subspecies d
(during Oct., Nov., Dec. & Jan.)
Sailfi sh
No limit
84 — No limit
Seatrout, spotted
15 — 25 e
All waters NORTH of F.M. 457 in Matagorda County
10
All waters SOUTH of F.M. 457 in Matagorda County
5
Shark
Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, bonnethead
24 — No limit
Allowable species
64 — No limit
Hammerhead (smooth, great, scalloped)
99 — No limit
Prohibited species g
0
Catch and release only
Sheepshead
5
15 — No limit
Snapper, lane
No limit
8 — No limit
Snapper, red h
4
15 — No limit
Snapper, vermilion
No limit
10 — No limit
Snook
1
24 — 28
Tarpon
1
85 — No limit
Triggerfi sh, gray
20
16 — No limit
Tripletail
3
17 — No limit
FISHING REGULATIONS
a No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part
of the daily bag and possession limit.
b Red drum special regulation: During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length
limit may be retained when affi xed with a properly completed Red Drum Tag and one red drum over
the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affi xed with a properly completed Bonus
Red Drum Tag. Any fi sh retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may
be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.
c Flounder special regulation: Daily bag is 5 fi sh except from Nov. 1-30, when the daily bag limit is 2
fi sh (fl ounder may be taken only by pole-and-line); and from December 1-14, when the daily bag limit
is 2 fi sh (fl ounder may be taken by any legal means, including gigging). Possession limit is equal to
the daily bag.
d May not take from public waters, or possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches during October,
November, December, and January. No limits apply during other months.
e No more than one spotted seatrout over the stated maximum length may be retained per person
per day and counts as part of the daily bag and possession limit.
f Special Regulation: The daily bag limit is 1 fi sh for all allowable shark species INCLUDING Atlantic
sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead.
g Prohibited shark species: Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher,
Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfi n mako, Narrowtooth,
Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, White.
h Special Regulation: Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind
of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait. For additional regulations governing red
snapper and other reef fi sh, see pg. 40.
1
See Special
Regulation
f below
299
Species
Daily Bag
Length in Inches
(Minimum — Maximum)
Marlin, blue
No limit
131 — No limit
Marlin, white
No limit
86 — No limit
Mullet: all species, their hybrids
No limit
No limit — 12 d
and subspecies d
(during Oct., Nov., Dec. & Jan.)
Sailfi sh
No limit
84 — No limit
Seatrout, spotted
15 — 25 e
All waters NORTH of F.M. 457 in Matagorda County
10
All waters SOUTH of F.M. 457 in Matagorda County
5
Shark
Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, bonnethead
24 — No limit
Allowable species
64 — No limit
Hammerhead (smooth, great, scalloped)
99 — No limit
Prohibited species g
0
Catch and release only
Sheepshead
5
15 — No limit
Snapper, lane
No limit
8 — No limit
Snapper, red h
4
15 — No limit
Snapper, vermilion
No limit
10 — No limit
Snook
1
24 — 28
Tarpon
1
85 — No limit
Triggerfi sh, gray
20
16 — No limit
Tripletail
3
17 — No limit
FISHING REGULATIONS
a No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part
of the daily bag and possession limit.
b Red drum special regulation: During a license year, one red drum over the stated maximum length
limit may be retained when affi xed with a properly completed Red Drum Tag and one red drum over
the stated maximum length limit may be retained when affi xed with a properly completed Bonus
Red Drum Tag. Any fi sh retained under authority of a Red Drum Tag or a Bonus Red Drum Tag may
be retained in addition to the daily bag and possession limit as stated in this section.
c Flounder special regulation: Daily bag is 5 fi sh except from Nov. 1-30, when the daily bag limit is 2
fi sh (fl ounder may be taken only by pole-and-line); and from December 1-14, when the daily bag limit
is 2 fi sh (fl ounder may be taken by any legal means, including gigging). Possession limit is equal to
the daily bag.
d May not take from public waters, or possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches during October,
November, December, and January. No limits apply during other months.
e No more than one spotted seatrout over the stated maximum length may be retained per person
per day and counts as part of the daily bag and possession limit.
f Special Regulation: The daily bag limit is 1 fi sh for all allowable shark species INCLUDING Atlantic
sharpnose, blacktip and bonnethead.
g Prohibited shark species: Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher,
Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfi n mako, Narrowtooth,
Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, White.
h Special Regulation: Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind
of hook other than a circle hook when using natural bait. For additional regulations governing red
snapper and other reef fi sh, see pg. 40.
1
See Special
Regulation
f below
299