Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
Circle hook rule applies.
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
Barbels, tiny mouth, rounded fins; naps under ledges. More on the nurse shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for nurse shark in Texas?
64 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many nurse shark can you keep in Texas?
1 (all sharks combined, any combination). Counts toward the Sharks — all other allowable species aggregate.
When is nurse shark season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record nurse shark?
148.5 lb, Gulf of America (1998).
How current is this Texas nurse 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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