Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
Circle hook rule applies; 99-in minimum for hammerheads.
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
Nearly straight hammer with a center notch; towering dorsal. More on the great hammerhead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for great hammerhead in Texas?
99 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many great hammerhead can you keep in Texas?
1 (all sharks combined, any combination). Counts toward the Sharks — hammerhead (smooth, great, scalloped) aggregate.
When is great hammerhead season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record great hammerhead?
1,033 lb, Gulf of America (2017).
How current is this Texas great hammerhead 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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