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
White spots on gray, a spine before each dorsal, no anal fin. More on the spiny dogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spiny dogfish in other states16 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for spiny dogfish in Texas?
64 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many spiny dogfish can you keep in Texas?
1 (all sharks combined, any combination). Counts toward the Sharks — all other allowable species aggregate.
When is spiny dogfish season in Texas?
Open year-round.
What is the Texas record spiny dogfish?
21 lb, Gulf of America (1986).
How current is this Texas spiny 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a spiny dogfish in Texas and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app