Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 9 miles: federal waters Different rule
Two-day possession allowance for for-hire trips does not apply to cobia.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Atlantic sharpnose sharkCobia has no shark tail; swims flat and slow. 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
Broad flat head, dark lateral stripe, no true dorsal spines — often mistaken for a shark at boatside. More on the cobia page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for cobia in Texas?
40 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many cobia can you keep in Texas?
1.
When is cobia season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record cobia?
108.44 lb, Gulf of America (1998).
How current is this Texas cobia 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a cobia in Texas and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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