Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
64-in minimum under the all-other-sharks rule effectively bars harvest of this small species.
TPWD 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Texas state record
TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Small gray shark with flat pavement teeth — it gums, not bites. More on the smooth dogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for smooth dogfish in Texas?
64 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many smooth dogfish can you keep in Texas?
1 (all sharks combined, any combination). Counts toward the Sharks — all other allowable species aggregate.
When is smooth dogfish season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record smooth dogfish?
26.5 lb, Gulf of America (1998).
How current is this Texas smooth dogfish 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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