48 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 REGULATIONS SUMMARY
• There is no open season, bag or possession limit for marine mammals (including porpoises, dolphins and whales).
• In public fresh waters, a fi shing license and freshwater fi shing endorsement is required to take
mussels, clams, crayfi sh, and other aquatic life for personal use. In salt water, a saltwater fi shing
endorsement is required with the fi shing license.
• A hunting license is required to hunt non-protected turtles and frogs (see pgs. 21 and 68).
• No more than 25 pounds of whole mussels and clams, or 12 pounds of mussel and clam shells may
be taken per day for personal use only.
• Clams, Mussels and Other Molluscan Shellfi sh taken from public salt waters may be taken only
from waters approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS). Maps
identifying approved areas may be obtained from the TDSHS, Seafood and Aquatic Life Group
(512) 834-6757. Additional information concerning area closures may be obtained 24 hours a day,
7 days a week by calling (800) 685-0361.
• Consumption of Clams and Mussels taken from public fresh waters is prohibited by the TDSHS.
• Mussels and clams may only be taken by hand.
• Freshwater mussels of the following species may be taken only when they will not pass through a
ring with an inside diameter (I.D.) specifi ed for that species.
Species
Ring I.D. in inches
Washboard
4.00
Threeridges and roundlakes
2.75
Mapleleafs and pimplebacks
2.75
Tampico pearlymussel
2.75
Bleufer
2.75
All Other Species of Freshwater Mussels
2.50
• More information on harvesting freshwater mussels and clams, including areas closed to harvest,
can be obtained by calling TPWD in Austin at (512) 389-4444.
• It is unlawful to take more than 15 live univalve snails during a day which include no more than
two each of the following snails: lightning whelk, horse conch, Florida fi ghting conch, pear whelk,
banded tulip, or Florida rocksnail.
• It is unlawful to take or kill shell-bearing mollusks, hermit crabs, starfi sh, or sea urchins from Nov. 1
through Apr. 30 within the following boundary: the bay and pass sides of South Padre Island from
the east end of the north jetty at Brazos Santiago Pass to the west end of West Marisol Drive in
the town of South Padre Island, out 1,000 yards from the mean high-tide line, and bounded to the
south by the centerline of the Brazos Santiago Pass.
Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories
Fish and shellfi sh can be a source of high-quality protein in your diet. Fish and shellfi sh, however,
can accumulate contaminants from the waters in which they live. The Texas Department of State Health
Services (TDSHS) monitors fi sh in the state for the presence of environmental contaminants and alerts
the public through bans and advisories when a threat to human health may occur from the consumption of contaminated fi sh.
In waters with consumption bans, possession and consumption of fi sh and/or shellfi sh is prohibited. Catch-and-release fi shing from these areas is allowed. A consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit consumption to specifi ed quantities, species, and sizes of fi sh. For additional
information, a listing of all consumption bans and advisories, or a listing of areas tested where no
bans or advisories were issued, visit www.dshs.texas.gov/seafood or call (800) 685-0361 (shellfi sh) or
(512) 834-6757 (fi sh).
Boater Education
Anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 MUST complete an approved boater education course before
operating in public water a vessel of more than 15 horsepower, a windblown vessel of more than 14 feet in
length, or a personal watercraft, unless there is another person on board who is 18 years of age or older and
who is legally qualifi ed to operate the vessel or personal watercraft.
For course information, please call TPWD toll-free at (800) 792-1112 (menu 6) or call (512) 389-4999 or
consult the TPWD Boater Education section at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/education/boater-education
FISHING REGULATIONS
306
• There is no open season, bag or possession limit for marine mammals (including porpoises, dolphins and whales).
• In public fresh waters, a fi shing license and freshwater fi shing endorsement is required to take
mussels, clams, crayfi sh, and other aquatic life for personal use. In salt water, a saltwater fi shing
endorsement is required with the fi shing license.
• A hunting license is required to hunt non-protected turtles and frogs (see pgs. 21 and 68).
• No more than 25 pounds of whole mussels and clams, or 12 pounds of mussel and clam shells may
be taken per day for personal use only.
• Clams, Mussels and Other Molluscan Shellfi sh taken from public salt waters may be taken only
from waters approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS). Maps
identifying approved areas may be obtained from the TDSHS, Seafood and Aquatic Life Group
(512) 834-6757. Additional information concerning area closures may be obtained 24 hours a day,
7 days a week by calling (800) 685-0361.
• Consumption of Clams and Mussels taken from public fresh waters is prohibited by the TDSHS.
• Mussels and clams may only be taken by hand.
• Freshwater mussels of the following species may be taken only when they will not pass through a
ring with an inside diameter (I.D.) specifi ed for that species.
Species
Ring I.D. in inches
Washboard
4.00
Threeridges and roundlakes
2.75
Mapleleafs and pimplebacks
2.75
Tampico pearlymussel
2.75
Bleufer
2.75
All Other Species of Freshwater Mussels
2.50
• More information on harvesting freshwater mussels and clams, including areas closed to harvest,
can be obtained by calling TPWD in Austin at (512) 389-4444.
• It is unlawful to take more than 15 live univalve snails during a day which include no more than
two each of the following snails: lightning whelk, horse conch, Florida fi ghting conch, pear whelk,
banded tulip, or Florida rocksnail.
• It is unlawful to take or kill shell-bearing mollusks, hermit crabs, starfi sh, or sea urchins from Nov. 1
through Apr. 30 within the following boundary: the bay and pass sides of South Padre Island from
the east end of the north jetty at Brazos Santiago Pass to the west end of West Marisol Drive in
the town of South Padre Island, out 1,000 yards from the mean high-tide line, and bounded to the
south by the centerline of the Brazos Santiago Pass.
Fish Consumption Bans and Advisories
Fish and shellfi sh can be a source of high-quality protein in your diet. Fish and shellfi sh, however,
can accumulate contaminants from the waters in which they live. The Texas Department of State Health
Services (TDSHS) monitors fi sh in the state for the presence of environmental contaminants and alerts
the public through bans and advisories when a threat to human health may occur from the consumption of contaminated fi sh.
In waters with consumption bans, possession and consumption of fi sh and/or shellfi sh is prohibited. Catch-and-release fi shing from these areas is allowed. A consumption advisory is a recommendation to limit consumption to specifi ed quantities, species, and sizes of fi sh. For additional
information, a listing of all consumption bans and advisories, or a listing of areas tested where no
bans or advisories were issued, visit www.dshs.texas.gov/seafood or call (800) 685-0361 (shellfi sh) or
(512) 834-6757 (fi sh).
Boater Education
Anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 MUST complete an approved boater education course before
operating in public water a vessel of more than 15 horsepower, a windblown vessel of more than 14 feet in
length, or a personal watercraft, unless there is another person on board who is 18 years of age or older and
who is legally qualifi ed to operate the vessel or personal watercraft.
For course information, please call TPWD toll-free at (800) 792-1112 (menu 6) or call (512) 389-4999 or
consult the TPWD Boater Education section at: www.tpwd.texas.gov/education/boater-education
FISHING REGULATIONS
306