Texas Spearfishing Rules Card

Legal status

Saltwater LegalFreshwater Permitted

Texas has a long Gulf of Mexico coast, and spearfishing is legal in both salt and fresh water -- but ONLY for nongame fish.

License

Required: Texas Fishing License with the appropriate water endorsement -- Freshwater Package, Saltwater Package, or All-Water Package (a Saltwater endorsement is needed.

Resident: Freshwater Package $30; Saltwater Package $35; All-Water Package $40; Senior (65+) packages $12/$17/$22; One-Day All-Water License $11. (An administrative/convenience fee typically applies to online and phone purchases; the exact amount was not itemized on the TPWD packages page reviewed.)

Non-resident: Freshwater Package $58; Saltwater Package $63; All-Water Package $68; One-Day All-Water License $16.

Gear rules

• Spearguns: Legal for NONGAME fish only. A spear gun is 'any hand operated device designed and used for propelling a spear, but does not include.
• Pole spears: Legal for NONGAME fish only. A pole spear falls under Texas's definition of a 'spear' ('any shaft with single or multiple points, barbed.
• On scuba: Not specifically addressed by TPWD's device rules.
• Spears, spearguns, and gigs may take NONGAME fish only -- never game fish, anywhere in Texas
• Game fish may be taken only by pole and line, except as otherwise provided
• In fresh water it is unlawful to take fish with a hand-operated device held underwater EXCEPT a spear or spear gun used for nongame fish
• Spearguns are not a legal means to take fish in a Community Fishing Lake (public impoundment of 75 acres or less within a city or public.

Do not spear

• ALL GAME FISH may NOT be speared
• Saltwater game fish that may NOT be speared: red drum
• Endangered/threatened species may not be taken by any method: paddlefish, shovelnose sturgeon, sawfish 'and others'
• Sea turtles may not be taken, killed, or disturbed; nor may diamondback terrapin or marine mammals such as porpoises, dolphins, or whales

Area restrictions

• Community Fishing Lakes (public impoundments of 75 acres or less located within a city or public park): spearguns are not a legal means to take fish
• Lakes lying totally within the boundaries of a Texas state park, or anywhere on state park property: bowfishing/archery is prohibited (a comparable.
• Alligator gar: statewide 1-per-day limit; harvest prohibited during the May spawning season on the Texas portion of Lake Texoma; other special-water.
• Texas state (marine) waters extend seaward roughly 9 nautical miles into the Gulf; beyond that, federal rules (NOAA / Gulf of Mexico Fishery.

Before you dive

• Never dive alone: one up, one down.
• Check current seasons and sizes the morning of the dive.
• Confirm with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD): https://tpwd.texas.gov