License
You must have a salt water fishing license, and these licenses are fairly easy to obtain. Just purchase them from either a local store which carries the licenses, over the phone with the state's direct line, or by using the Internet. If you would like to see if a store near you sells the license, visit the "Store Finder" link in Resources. A link to the online purchasing page is available through Resources as well, or call this toll free number, (800) 792-1112, during normal business hours.
State Lines
It is important to stay within nine miles of the coastline while in Texas because this the extent of the state's border into the ocean. Once you cross this invisible barrier you are crossing into United States waters, which have different regulations than the state of Texas. Breaking these U.S. Federal fishing laws can result in the loss of fishing privileges as well as a fine.
Bag and Length Limit
While salt water fishing, there is a bag and length limit for most fish. That is, there is a specific number of fish in each category that you can catch (bag), and all fish must be a minimum length to make sure that you are not catching and keeping young, immature fish. The actual bag and length limits per fish differ. For example, the daily bag limit for bass fish is five, and the length needs to be at least 18 inches. On the other hand, only one Amberjack can be caught every day with a minimum length requirement of 34 inches. See Resources for a complete list of these bag and length requirements.
Article Written By Greyson Ferguson
Greyson Ferguson is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in film and television. He currently resides in Lansing, Michigan where he works on independent film projects and writes for numerous publications. Ferguson primarily focuses on computer and electronic articles. Greyson produces TheDailyUpbeat.com, focusing on only upbeat news stories with daily updates.
