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Texas fishing regulations

Curated references from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected Texas saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.

OPEN NOWALL SPECIESAUG 2026

SOURCETPWD outdoor annual saltwater regulations ↗UPDATED SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 · CHECKED AUG 14, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCRules vary by location, method, vessel, and emergency closure.The TPWD page is an informational summary; the Texas Administrative Code and emergency orders are authoritative.

SPECIESLISTED SEASON WINDOWSJFMAMJJASONDBAGMIN SIZELISTING

All species of flounder, their hybrids and subspeciesTPWD 2026-27 Flounder page: 15-inch minimum, no maximum, daily bag 5 except the explicit November 1-December 14 closure. · Listed season windows: Sep 1, 2026 through Oct 31, 2026 · 5 fish listed · Nov 1, 2026 through Dec 14, 2026 · 0 fish listed · Dec 15, 2026 through Aug 31, 2027 · 5 fish listedPossession limit equals the daily bag; the fishery is closed and no fish may be possessed from November 1 through December 14.15"OPEN

Black DrumTPWD 2026-27 Drum page lists 14-inch minimum and 30-inch maximum, with the separate one-over-52-inch exception.Possession limit is double the 5-fish daily bag. No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day; that fish counts as part of daily bag and possession limits.14"OPEN

CobiaTPWD 2026-27 Cobia page lists a 40-inch minimum and no maximum.Possession limit is double the 1-fish daily bag.40"OPEN

Greater AmberjackTPWD 2026-27 Amberjack page lists Greater Amberjack, a 38-inch minimum and no maximum; federal fishery-management rules can also apply offshore.Possession limit is double the 1-fish daily bag.38"OPEN

King MackerelTPWD 2026-27 Mackerel page lists a 27-inch minimum and no maximum.Possession limit is double the 3-fish daily bag.27"OPEN

Red DrumTPWD 2026-27 Drum page; daily bag 3, 20-inch minimum and 28-inch maximum. Properly completed digital or physical tags are required for the two stated over-length exceptions.Possession limit is double the 3-fish daily bag. During a license year, one fish over 28 inches may be retained with a Red Drum Tag and one with a Bonus Red Drum Tag; tagged fish are additional to daily bag and possession limits.20"OPEN

Red SnapperPrivate recreational anglers in Texas state waters: open year-round, 4 fish daily and 15-inch minimum. The same TPWD page separately states the 2026 federal-water season opened May 22 with a 2-fish/16-inch rule and an in-season closure date to be monitored; that federal rule is not encoded here.No more than 4 red snapper may be possessed while fishing in state waters; the state-water daily bag is 4 fish per person.15"OPEN

SheepsheadTPWD 2026-27 Sheepshead page lists a 15-inch minimum and no maximum.Possession limit is double the 5-fish daily bag.15"OPEN

Spanish MackerelTPWD 2026-27 Mackerel page lists a 14-inch minimum and no maximum.Possession limit is double the 15-fish daily bag.14"OPEN

Spotted SeatroutTPWD 2026-27 Seatrout page lists the general 15- to 20-inch rule and the two stated over-28-inch tag exceptions.Possession limit is double the 3-fish daily bag. During a license year, one fish over 28 inches may be retained with a Spotted Seatrout Tag and one with a Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag; tagged fish are additional to daily bag and possession limits.15"OPEN

TarponTPWD 2026-27 Tarpon page lists an 85-inch minimum and no maximum.Possession limit is double the 1-fish daily bag.85"OPEN

Vermilion SnapperTPWD 2026-27 Snapper page lists a 10-inch minimum and no maximum for Vermilion Snapper.No limit; the TPWD snapper page lists the daily bag as no limit.10"OPEN

Reference only, not permission to fish or retain a catch. Verify the current official regulations before you go.