Texas state waters, out to 9 miles
TPWD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 9 miles: federal waters Different rule
The water you are in decides. the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council writes the rule past the line.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
King mackerelLateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size. Tell them apart
False albacoreWavy worm-lines on the back, no spots. 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
Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king. More on the Spanish mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spanish mackerel in other states14 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Spanish mackerel in Texas?
14 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many Spanish mackerel can you keep in Texas?
15.
When is Spanish mackerel season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record Spanish mackerel?
8.74 lb, Gulf of America (1976).
How current is this Texas Spanish mackerel 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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