--- title: "Texas Saltwater Fishing License & Limits 2026-27" description: "What a Texas saltwater fishing license requires for 2026-27, the exemptions that do and do not exist, and the current bag and length limits in one dated table." canonical: https://portaransasfishingtx.com/plan/licenses-and-regs/ source: https://portaransasfishingtx.com/plan/licenses-and-regs/ --- 1. [Home](https://portaransasfishingtx.com/) 2. Licenses & Regs Plan your trip # Texas saltwater licenses and limits Buy the license from TPWD — that transaction belongs to the state, not to us. What this page adds is the part the checkout flow never explains: which exemptions actually exist, the landing rule that governs offshore trips, and the current limits in one dated, verified table. ## What license do you need for saltwater fishing in Texas? A Texas fishing license is required for anyone 17 and over, plus the $10 saltwater endorsement to fish coastal water. The endorsement includes a free Red Drum Tag and a free Spotted Seatrout Tag. [TPWD — Endorsements & Tags](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/fishing-licenses-stamps-tags-packages/fishing-endorsements-and-tags) Two non-exemptions surprise visitors every season, straight from [TPWD’s license FAQ](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/faqs): No charter or party-boat exemption exists in Texas — every angler aboard needs their own license. And No general pier or jetty exemption exists either. The only exemptions: under 17, residents born before 1931, and fishing inside a Texas state park. Licenses are not sold at the Port Aransas piers, so buy online or in town first — details on the [bait and tackle directory](/bait-shops/). ## What are the Texas saltwater bag and length limits? The table below is the current state-water set for the species that matter here, rendered from one verified source with its retrieval date shown. Possession is twice the daily bag except where a note says otherwise. [TPWD — Bag & Length Limits](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits) Species Daily bag Min Max Notes [Red drum (redfish)](/species/redfish/) 3 20 in 28 in Plus up to 2 oversized fish per license year, each in addition to the daily bag: one on the free Red Drum Tag, one on the $3 Bonus Red Drum Tag [Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)](/species/speckled-trout/) 3 15 in 20 in Plus up to 2 oversized fish over 28 in per license year, each in addition to the daily bag: one on the free Spotted Seatrout Tag, one on the Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag [Southern flounder](/species/flounder/) 5 15 in none Closed Nov 1 – Dec 14 (bag 0, all methods). Possession equals the daily bag, not double Black drum 5 14 in 30 in No more than one over 52 in per person per day, counting toward the bag Sheepshead 5 15 in none Possession 10 Spanish mackerel 15 14 in none Texas is stricter than the federal minimum King mackerel 3 27 in none Texas is stricter than the federal minimum Tripletail 3 17 in none — Cobia (ling) 1 40 in none Possession 2 Tarpon 1 85 in none Effectively trophy-only [Red snapper (state waters)](/species/red-snapper/) 4 15 in none Open year-round in state waters; circle hooks required Snook 1 24 in 28 in — Greater amberjack 1 38 in none — Gray triggerfish 20 16 in none The federal limit is far stricter — the landing rule below still governs your cooler [Sharks (allowable species, combined)](/species/shark/) 1 total, not per species 24 in sharpnose/blacktip/bonnethead; 99 in hammerhead; 64 in others none Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks mandatory in state waters; 23 prohibited species are catch-and-release only Verified against [TPWD Outdoor Annual, saltwater bag and length limits, 2026–27 edition (2026–2027 license year, valid through 2027-08-31)](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/bag-length-limits) Retrieved 2026-08-29 Next revision Texas re-issues these rules every September 1; this page is re-verified against the new edition when it publishes ## Do federal limits apply on an offshore trip? All fish landed in Texas must comply with Texas bag and length limits. No exceptions. That single sentence from TPWD governs every offshore cooler: wherever you caught the fish, Texas rules apply the moment you land it here. [TPWD — Federal, State & Border Waters](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/fishing-licenses-stamps-tags-packages/requirements-for-federal-state-border-waters) Because Texas is stricter than federal rules on king mackerel (27 in vs 24 in fork length) and Spanish mackerel (14 in vs 12 in), an offshore Port Aransas trip is bound by the Texas numbers for everything brought back to the dock. Red snapper is the special case with three regimes at once — covered on the [red snapper page](/species/red-snapper/). ## What other rules catch people out? Two worth knowing before you improvise. Cast nets: in Texas salt water they may take non-game fish for bait purposes only. And in hard winters, TPWD can close areas to fishing on short notice when water temperatures are forecast below 40°F. [TPWD — Saltwater Freeze Events](https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/saltwater-fishing/saltwater-freeze-events) In Texas salt water a cast net may take non-game fish for bait purposes only — cast-netting mullet "for the table" would be an offense. The shallow-water seagrass law, the one rule with a criminal penalty attached that visitors genuinely stumble into, is covered on the [Redfish Bay page](/spots/redfish-bay/). Straight answers ## Frequently asked questions ### Do you need a fishing license on a charter in Texas? Yes — no charter or party-boat exemption exists in Texas. Every angler aboard who is 17 or over needs their own Texas fishing license with the saltwater endorsement, even though the boat carries its own licenses. Buy it online from TPWD before you board. ### Can you fish without a license anywhere in Port Aransas? One place: inside Mustang Island State Park, where fishing requires no license for anglers of any age, pole and line only, two poles per person. The exemption ends at the park boundary — the town piers, jetties, and beach all require the license. ## What will your trip cost? Pick a trip type, length, and group size — the estimate is instant, free, and from current local market research.