Fishing / Saltwater
Saltwater fish in Texas.
Bays, jetties, surf, and the Gulf. The coast uses a slot-and-tag system for its prize fish, and these rules change the most - so confirm before you keep a fish, especially seatrout, flounder, and red snapper.
Texas state water reaches 9 nautical miles from shore.
State water - to 9 nautical miles
State water (out to 9 nm): Texas rules. Red snapper is open year-round, 4 per day, 15-inch minimum.
Federal water - past 9 nautical miles
Federal water (past 9 nm): federal rules. Red snapper is 2 per day, 16-inch minimum, only during the season that's set each year.
Out in the Gulf, Texas state waters extend 9 nautical miles from the beach. Past that line, federal rules add another layer. This matters most for red snapper, so know which side of the line you're fishing.
Drum
Drum
Red drum (redfish)
Tightly managed with a slot limit and a trophy tag.
- Daily:
- 3 per day.
- Size:
- 20 to 28 inch slot (keep only fish between those sizes).
Drum
Black drum
A coastal workhorse, good eating at the smaller end of the slot.
- Daily:
- 5 per day.
- Size:
- 14 to 30 inch slot.
Trout
Flatfish
Snapper
Snapper
Recently changedRed snapper
Different limits depending on whether you're in state or federal water.
- Daily:
- State waters: 4 per day, open year-round. Federal waters: 2 per day, during the federal season.
- Size:
- State waters: 15-inch minimum. Federal waters: 16-inch minimum.
Snapper
Lane & vermilion snapper
Smaller reef snappers with size minimums but no daily cap.
- Daily:
- No daily limit.
- Size:
- Lane: 8-inch minimum. Vermilion: 10-inch minimum.
Mackerel
Sharks
Other
Other
Sheepshead
Hangs around jetties, piers, and pilings - good eating.
- Daily:
- 5 per day.
- Size:
- 15-inch minimum.
Other
Tarpon
A legendary fighter that almost everyone releases.
- Daily:
- 1 per day.
- Size:
- 85-inch minimum.
Other
Snook
A prized inshore fish near the lower coast.
- Daily:
- 1 per day.
- Size:
- 24 to 28 inch slot.
Other
Tripletail
Often found drifting near buoys and weed lines.
- Daily:
- 3 per day.
- Size:
- 17-inch minimum.
Other
Gray triggerfish
A reef dweller with a generous daily limit.
- Daily:
- 20 per day.
- Size:
- 16-inch minimum.
Other
Cobia (ling)
A hard-pulling fish with a large minimum size.
- Daily:
- 1 per day.
- Size:
- 40-inch minimum.
Quick limits table
Possession is usually twice the daily limit. Saltwater limits change often - the official page is the final word.
- Size limit 20 to 28 inch slot (keep only fish between those sizes).Daily limit 3 per day.
- Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) Recently changedSize limit 15 to 20 inch slot.Daily limit 3 per day.
- Southern flounder Recently changedSize limit 15-inch minimum.Daily limit 5 per day - except November 1 to December 14, when the season is closed and you can't keep any.
- Size limit 14 to 30 inch slot.Daily limit 5 per day.
- Size limit 15-inch minimum.Daily limit 5 per day.
- Red snapper Recently changedSize limit State waters: 15-inch minimum. Federal waters: 16-inch minimum.Daily limit State waters: 4 per day, open year-round. Federal waters: 2 per day, during the federal season.
- Size limit Lane: 8-inch minimum. Vermilion: 10-inch minimum.Daily limit No daily limit.
- Size limit King: 27-inch minimum. Spanish: 14-inch minimum.Daily limit King: 3 per day. Spanish: 15 per day.
- Size limit Varies by species: 24-inch minimum for Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, and bonnethead; 64 inches for most other allowed sharks; 99 inches for hammerheads.Daily limit 1 per day among the allowed species.
- Size limit 85-inch minimum.Daily limit 1 per day.
- Size limit 24 to 28 inch slot.Daily limit 1 per day.
- Size limit 17-inch minimum.Daily limit 3 per day.
- Size limit 16-inch minimum.Daily limit 20 per day.
- Size limit 40-inch minimum.Daily limit 1 per day.
Also on the coast
Oysters, crabs & shrimp
You can gather these for fun, but each has its own rules - seasons, approved areas, sizes, and gear or trap tags. If you plan to crab, oyster, or cast-net shrimp, read the specific TPWD pages first.
TPWD Saltwater Fishing ->Official sources
Saltwater limits come from Texas Parks & Wildlife; the offshore red snapper season for private anglers is set by TPWD under a NOAA-approved program (NOAA sets the for-hire season). Confirm before you keep a fish.
- Data vintage:
- Built on the 2025-2026 license year
- Last reviewed:
- July 10, 2026
- TPWD Saltwater Bag & Length Limits - Coastal and Gulf limits
- TPWD Fishing in Federal Waters
- NOAA Fisheries (red snapper & reef fish)
Before you act: Saltwater limits change often, and the offshore red snapper season is reset every year. The official pages are the final word. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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