REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 45
FISHING REGULATIONS
Special County Restrictions
Nueces: It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take shrimp with a trawl in the
Laguna Madre north of a line starting on the mainland at the most northeasterly point on the
north side of the entrance to Whiteley Channel then proceeding in a straight line to the north
end of Pita Island; then continuing on a line to the southernmost point on the westerly most
spoil island bordering the north side of the New Humble Channel (commonly referred to as
Hap’s Channel); then continuing on a line along the north edge of the New Humble Channel
(commonly referred to as Hap’s Channel) to its junction with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway;
then continuing on a straight line to the Nueces/Kleberg County line marker on Padre Island.
Crab and Shrimp Regulations
NOTE: It is unlawful to place, fi sh, or leave a crab trap or crab trap component in the coastal
waters of the state from Feb. 16-25, 2018.
• Crabs may be taken for personal use (bait or food). Crabs taken with recreational license
for personal use may not be sold.
• There are no public salt waters, seasons, or times closed to the taking and retaining of
crabs and ghost shrimp, EXCEPT as provided in this guide.
• It is lawful to take, attempt to take, or possess crabs and ghost shrimp by means, in
numbers, and of sizes ONLY as described below.
• A person taking or attempting to take crabs or ghost shrimp from salt water for noncommercial purposes is required to have a valid fi shing license and a saltwater fi shing
endorsement.
Bag, Possession and Length Limits
Species
Daily Bag
Possession
Minimum Length
Blue crab a
No limit
No limit
5 inches (Measured across the widest
point of the body from tip of spine
to tip of spine.) See pg. 37.
Stone crab b
No limit
No limit
2-1/2 inches claw (Measured from the
(right claw only)
tip of claw to fi rst joint behind the
immovable claw.) See pg. 37.
Ghost shrimp
20
20 per person
None
a Except that not more than 5% by number, of undersized blue crabs may be possessed for bait purposes
only and must be placed in a separate container.
• May not possess egg-bearing (sponge) crabs.
• May not possess a female crab that has its abdominal apron removed.
b Only the right claw may be retained or possessed. The body of the stone crab must be immediately
returned to the water from which it was taken.
303
FISHING REGULATIONS
Special County Restrictions
Nueces: It is unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take shrimp with a trawl in the
Laguna Madre north of a line starting on the mainland at the most northeasterly point on the
north side of the entrance to Whiteley Channel then proceeding in a straight line to the north
end of Pita Island; then continuing on a line to the southernmost point on the westerly most
spoil island bordering the north side of the New Humble Channel (commonly referred to as
Hap’s Channel); then continuing on a line along the north edge of the New Humble Channel
(commonly referred to as Hap’s Channel) to its junction with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway;
then continuing on a straight line to the Nueces/Kleberg County line marker on Padre Island.
Crab and Shrimp Regulations
NOTE: It is unlawful to place, fi sh, or leave a crab trap or crab trap component in the coastal
waters of the state from Feb. 16-25, 2018.
• Crabs may be taken for personal use (bait or food). Crabs taken with recreational license
for personal use may not be sold.
• There are no public salt waters, seasons, or times closed to the taking and retaining of
crabs and ghost shrimp, EXCEPT as provided in this guide.
• It is lawful to take, attempt to take, or possess crabs and ghost shrimp by means, in
numbers, and of sizes ONLY as described below.
• A person taking or attempting to take crabs or ghost shrimp from salt water for noncommercial purposes is required to have a valid fi shing license and a saltwater fi shing
endorsement.
Bag, Possession and Length Limits
Species
Daily Bag
Possession
Minimum Length
Blue crab a
No limit
No limit
5 inches (Measured across the widest
point of the body from tip of spine
to tip of spine.) See pg. 37.
Stone crab b
No limit
No limit
2-1/2 inches claw (Measured from the
(right claw only)
tip of claw to fi rst joint behind the
immovable claw.) See pg. 37.
Ghost shrimp
20
20 per person
None
a Except that not more than 5% by number, of undersized blue crabs may be possessed for bait purposes
only and must be placed in a separate container.
• May not possess egg-bearing (sponge) crabs.
• May not possess a female crab that has its abdominal apron removed.
b Only the right claw may be retained or possessed. The body of the stone crab must be immediately
returned to the water from which it was taken.
303