Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels. Tell them apart
Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth. Tell them apartNot listed by Texas: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sheepshead in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for sheepshead in Texas?
15 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many sheepshead can you keep in Texas?
5.
When is sheepshead season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record sheepshead?
15.25 lb, Lower Laguna Madre (2002).
How current is this Texas sheepshead 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 sheepshead in Texas and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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