Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
Only bigeye thresher is on the TPWD prohibited list; common thresher falls under the other-sharks rule.
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
The tail's upper lobe is as long as the body — the whip is the whole ID. More on the common thresher page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for common thresher in Texas?
64 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many common thresher can you keep in Texas?
1 (all sharks combined, any combination). Counts toward the Sharks — all other allowable species aggregate.
When is common thresher season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record common thresher?
333 lb, Gulf of America (2002).
How current is this Texas common thresher 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 common thresher in Texas and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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