Section 57.992 - Bag, Possession, and Length Limits(a) The possession limit applies to all aquatic animal life in the possession of or stored by any person, but does not apply to aquatic animal life that has been lawfully obtained and for which a person possesses an invoice or sales ticket showing the name and address of the seller or person from whom the aquatic animal life was obtained, the amount of aquatic animal life by number and species, date of the sale, and any other information required on a sales ticket or invoice.(b) There are no bag, possession, or length limits on game fish, non-game fish, or shellfish, except as otherwise provided in this subchapter.(1) Possession limits are twice the daily bag limit on game fish, non-game fish, and shellfish, except as provided in this subchapter.(2) For flounder, the possession limit is the daily bag limit.(3) The bag limit for a guided fishing party is equal to the total number of persons in the boat licensed to fish or otherwise exempt from holding a license minus each fishing guide and fishing guide deckhand multiplied by the bag limit for each species harvested.(4) The statewide daily bag and length limits for commercial fishing shall be as follows. (A) Amberjack, greater. (ii) Minimum length: 34 inches.(iii) Maximum length limit: No limit.(B) Catfish. (i) channel and blue (including hybrids and subspecies). The provisions of subclauses (I) - (III) of this clause apply on all waters for which an exception is not provided under subclause (IV) of this clause.(I) Daily bag limit: 25 (in any combination).(II) Minimum length limit: 14 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(IV) Exceptions. (-a-) Lakes Caddo (Harrison and Marion counties), Livingston (Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker counties), Sam Rayburn (Angelina, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Sabine, and San Augustine counties), and Toledo Bend (Newton Sabine, and Shelby counties), and the Sabine River (Newton and Orange counties) from Toledo Bend dam to the I.H. 10 bridge. (-1-) 50 (in any combination).(-2-) No more than five catfish 30 inches or greater in length may be retained each day.(-b-) Any lake lying totally within a state park and community fishing lakes: 5 (in any combination).(-c-) Counties where sale and purchase of catfish taken from public fresh water is allowed under the provisions of Parks and Wildlife Code, § 66.111(b)(5): 25 (in any combination).(ii) Gaffstopsail. (II) Minimum length limit: 14 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(C) Cobia.(ii) Minimum length limit: 40 inches.(iii) No maximum length limit.(D) Drum, black. (i) Daily bag limit: None.(ii) Minimum length limit: 14 inches.(iii) Maximum length limit: 30 inches.(E) Flounder: all species (including hybrids and subspecies). (i) Daily bag limit: 30. Possession limit is equal to the daily bag limit.(ii) Minimum length limit: 15 inches.(iii) No maximum length limit.(iv) During November, lawful means are restricted to pole-and-line only and the bag and possession limit for flounder is two. For the first 14 days in December, the bag and possession limit is two, and flounder may be taken by any legal means. On September 1, 2021, the provisions of this clause cease effect.(v) Beginning September 1, 2021, the season for flounder is closed from November 1 through December 14 every year.(F) Gar, alligator. (i) Daily bag limit: (I) On Falcon International Reservoir: 5.(II) Remainder of the state: 1.(ii) No minimum length limit.(iii) No maximum length limit except that on the Trinity River and all tributary waters from the I-30 bridge in Dallas County downstream through Anderson, Ellis, Freestone, Henderson, Houston, Kaufman, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Navarro, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker counties to the I-10 bridge in Chambers County, including the East Fork of the Trinity River and all tributaries upstream to the Lake Ray Hubbard dam, the maximum length limit is 48 inches.(iv) During May, no person shall take alligator gar from, or possess alligator gar while on, the Red River (including Lake Texoma) and all tributaries that drain directly or indirectly to the Red River on the Texas/Oklahoma boundary in Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, and Bowie counties.(v) any person who takes an alligator gar in the public waters of this state other than Falcon International Reservoir shall report the harvest via the department's website or mobile application within 24 hours of take.(vi) Between one half-hour after sunset and one half-hour before sunrise, any lawful means other than lawful archery equipment and crossbow may be used to take an alligator gar in the portion of the Trinity River described in subsection (d)(1)(L)(ii) of this section. In the portion of the Trinity River described in § 57.981(d)(1)(L)(ii) of this title (relating to Bag, Possession and Length Limits), no person may take an alligator gar by means of lawful archery equipment or crossbow between one half-hour after sunset and one half-hour before sunrise, or possess an alligator gar taken by means of lawful archery equipment or crossbow between one half-hour after sunset and one half-hour before sunrise.(G) Grouper. (i) Black. (II) Minimum length limit: 24 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(ii) Gag. (II) Minimum length limit: 24 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(iii) Goliath. The take of Goliath grouper is prohibited.(iv) Nassau. The take of Nassau grouper is prohibited.(H) Mackerel. (i) King. (II) Minimum length limit: 27 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(ii) Spanish. (II) Minimum length limit: 14 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(I) Mullet: all species (including hybrids, and subspecies). (ii) No minimum length limit.(iii) From October through January, no mullet more than 12 inches in length may be taken from public waters or possessed on board a vessel.(J) Shark: all species (including hybrids and subspecies). (i) all species other than the species listed in clauses (ii) - (iv) of this subparagraph: (II) Minimum length limit: 64 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(ii) Atlantic sharpnose, blacktip, and bonnethead:(II) Minimum length limit: 24 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(iii) great, scalloped, and smooth hammerhead:(II) Minimum length limit: 99 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(iv) The take of the following species of sharks from the waters of this state is prohibited and they may not be possessed on board a vessel at any time:(VIII) Caribbean sharpnose;(v) Except for the species listed in clause (ii) - (iv) of this subparagraph, sharks may be taken using pole and line, but must be taken by non-offset, non-stainless-steel circle hook when using natural bait.(K) Sheepshead. (i) Daily bag limit: No limit.(ii) Minimum length limit: 15 inches.(iii) No maximum length limit.(L) Snapper. (i) Lane. (I) Daily bag limit: None.(II) Minimum length limit: 8 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(ii) Red. (II) Minimum length limit: 15 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(IV) Red snapper may be taken using pole and line, but it is unlawful to use any kind of hook other than a circle hook baited with natural bait.(iii) Vermilion. (I) Daily bag limit: None.(II) Minimum length limit: 10 inches.(III) No maximum length limit.(M) Triggerfish, gray.(ii) Minimum length limit: 16 inches.(iii) No maximum length limit.(N) Tripletail. (ii) Minimum length limit: 17 inches.(iii) No maximum length limit.31 Tex. Admin. Code § 57.992
The provisions of this §57.992 adopted to be effective June 27, 2010, 35 TexReg 5564; amended to be effective August 29, 2011, 36 TexReg 5363; amended to be effective September 1, 2013, 38 TexReg 3790; amended to be effective September 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 6495; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 29, July 17, 2015, TexReg 4697, eff. 9/1/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 26, June 30, 2017, TexReg 3396, eff. 9/1/2017; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 22, June 1, 2018, TexReg 3609, eff. 9/1/2018; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 44, Number 34, August 23, 2019, TexReg 4511, eff. 9/1/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 33, August 14, 2020, TexReg 5657, eff. 9/1/2020; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 46, Number 33, August 13, 2021, TexReg 5065, eff. 9/1/2021; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 27, July 8, 2022, TexReg 3982, eff. 9/1/2022; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 48, Number 27, July 7, 2023, TexReg 3697, eff. 7/11/2023