TPWD regs · 2026–2027

Texas fish species & bag limits

Common Gulf coast targets plus a couple of inland staples — bag, size, and season notes pulled from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual. Measure twice before you ice anything.

Last verified against TPWD Outdoor Annual: (CT). Re-check the linked TPWD pages before you keep fish.

Confirm before you keep fish. Bag and size limits on this page are a field-friendly summary of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) rules for the 2026–2027 Outdoor Annual (valid Sep. 1, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2027). They are not live fishing conditions, not legal advice, and not a substitute for the official regs. Local closures, freeze events, and waterbody exceptions can override these overnight. Numbers below were checked on the linked TPWD pages — if a limit could not be verified, it was left out (we do not invent bag limits).

Always check the official sources before retaining fish: TPWD Outdoor Annual · Saltwater bag & length limits · Freshwater bag & length limits

TX Surfcaster is not affiliated with TPWD. When in doubt, trust the Outdoor Annual.

Coastal · Surf, bay & nearshore

Gulf coast species

Possession is generally double the daily bag unless TPWD notes otherwise (flounder is an exception). Saltwater endorsement required to land fish in state or federal water.

Coastal

Red drum (redfish)

ID tips: Bronze-copper back, one or more black spots near the tail base. No chin barbels (unlike black drum).

Daily bag
3
Size
20–28 in slot
Season / notes
One fish over 28″ per license year with a properly completed Red Drum Tag, plus one more over 28″ with a Bonus Red Drum Tag — each in addition to the daily bag. Digital tags report via Texas Hunt & Fish app.

TPWD drum limits →

Coastal

Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)

ID tips: Silvery with many black spots on back and dorsal/tail fins. Two large canine teeth at tip of upper jaw.

Daily bag
3
Size
15–20 in slot
Season / notes
Possession = double daily bag. One fish over 28″ per license year with Spotted Seatrout Tag, plus one more over 28″ with Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag — each in addition to the daily bag.

TPWD seatrout limits →

Coastal

Flounder

ID tips: Flatfish with both eyes on one side. Southern flounder common in Texas bays — mottled brown, large mouth.

Daily bag
5 (0 when closed)
Size
15 in minimum
Season / notes
Closed Nov. 1 – Dec. 14 (bag = 0). Possession limit equals the daily bag (not double).

TPWD flounder limits →

Coastal

Black drum

ID tips: High-backed, barbels under the chin, gray-to-black body. Juveniles often show vertical bars.

Daily bag
5
Size
14–30 in slot
Season / notes
No more than one black drum over 52″ per person per day; that fish counts in the daily bag.

TPWD drum limits →

Coastal

Sheepshead

ID tips: Tall, compressed body with bold vertical black bars; human-like incisor teeth for crushing crabs and barnacles.

Daily bag
5
Size
15 in minimum
Season / notes
No max length. Possession = double daily bag unless otherwise noted.

TPWD sheepshead limits →

Coastal

Spanish mackerel

ID tips: Slim, silvery with yellow-gold oval spots on the sides. Lateral line dips gradually — smaller and more spotted than king mackerel.

Daily bag
15
Size
14 in minimum
Season / notes
No max length. Common nearshore and around jetties when bait is pushing.

TPWD mackerel limits →

Coastal

King mackerel (kingfish)

ID tips: Longer, streamlined; lateral line drops sharply under the second dorsal. Adults usually lack the dense yellow side spots of Spanish.

Daily bag
3
Size
27 in minimum
Season / notes
No max length. Measure carefully — kings and Spanish get mixed up on the beach.

TPWD mackerel limits →

Coastal

Cobia (ling)

ID tips: Broad, flattened head; dark brown with a pale lateral stripe. Often shadow rays, buoys, or shrimp boats.

Daily bag
1
Size
40 in minimum
Season / notes
No max length. Big minimum — keep a tape on the boat.

TPWD cobia limits →

Nearshore / offshore

Red snapper

ID tips: Pink-red body, red eye, triangular snout. Long triangular anal fin helps separate from similar snappers.

Daily bag
State waters: 4 · Federal waters: 2
Size
State: 15 in min · Federal: 16 in min
Season / notes
State waters open year-round for private recreational anglers. Federal private season opened May 22, 2026 and closes when TPWD announces harvest is met — check TPWD before you run offshore. You may not possess more than 4 while fishing in state waters. For-hire vessels follow separate federal rules.

TPWD red snapper →

Freshwater · Statewide

Popular inland species

Statewide limits below. Many lakes and rivers have exceptions — check TPWD waterbody exceptions before you keep fish inland.

Freshwater

Largemouth bass

ID tips: Upper jaw extends past the eye. Dark lateral blotch / stripe; deep-bodied compared with spotted bass.

Daily bag
5 (any combo of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe & spotted bass)
Size
14 in minimum (largemouth & smallmouth)
Season / notes
Special regs on many waterbodies. Spotted, Guadalupe & Alabama bass in the same 5-fish combo have no statewide minimum.

TPWD freshwater limits →

Freshwater

Channel & blue catfish

ID tips: Channel cats have a deeply forked tail and scattered dark spots (especially younger fish). Blue cats are usually plain slate-blue with a forked tail and a straighter anal-fin margin.

Daily bag
25 in any combination (only 10 may be 20 in or longer)
Size
No statewide minimum
Season / notes
Flathead catfish are separate: 5 daily, 18 in minimum. Waterbody exceptions are common — verify your lake.

TPWD freshwater limits →

How to use this page

Treat these cards as a planning checklist, then open the linked TPWD page (or the Outdoor Annual app) before you keep fish. Local closures, freeze events, and lake exceptions can override statewide numbers overnight.

Open TPWD Outdoor Annual →