Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
Non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks required when fishing for sharks in state waters.
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Spinner sharkBlack tip ON the anal fin, longer snout. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Black-tipped fins but a plain (unmarked) anal fin; pointed snout; Z-shaped lateral line. More on the blacktip shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for blacktip shark in Texas?
24 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many blacktip shark can you keep in Texas?
1 (all sharks combined, any combination). Counts toward the Sharks aggregate.
When is blacktip shark season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record blacktip shark?
190 lb, Gulf of America (2003).
How current is this Texas blacktip shark rule?
Source: TPWD 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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