Texas’ hunting and fishing regulations can be confusing, even to the most experienced outdoorsmen. Many new regulations have gone into effect for the new hunting and fishing seasons. Below is a guide to the most recent changes you can expect this season. For a complete list of regulations please refer to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Outdoor Annual.

Fishing Regulations:
• For flounder, the recreational daily bag limit will decrease from 10 to 5 fish, and the commercial bag limit from 60 to 30 fish. During the month of November, hook and line anglers will be permitted to take 2 flounder per day, with take by all other gear prohibited. These new regulations represent an attempt to reverse a long-term downward trend in the abundance of southern flounder.
• For sharks:
The minimum total length for most species will increase from 24 inches to 64 inches. However, the minimum for Atlantic sharpnose, Blacktip and Bonnethead sharks will remain at 24 inches total length.
A prohibited list (zero bag limit) will be established for the following 21 species: Atlantic angel, Basking, Bigeye sand tiger, Bigeye sixgill, Bigeye thresher, Bignose, Caribbean reef, Caribbean sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Longfin mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Sandbar, Sand tiger, Sevengill, Silky, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale, and White.
• Limits will change for the following species, with possession limit set at twice the daily bag limit:
For greater amberjack, the minimum total length will change from 32 inches to 34 inches.
Gray triggerfish will have a minimum total length of 16 inches and a daily bag limit of 20 fish per person.
Gag grouper will have a minimum total length of 22 inches and a daily bag limit of 2 fish per person.
• For alligator gar, a new bag limit of one fish per day goes into effect September 1. The bag limit will apply to both recreational and commercial fishing.