Saltwater / Mackerel
King & Spanish mackerel
Fast, toothy fish that show up nearshore.
Warm-weather speedsters that come within reach of the beach and jetties.
Daily limit
King: 3 per day. Spanish: 15 per day.
Size limit
King: 27-inch minimum. Spanish: 14-inch minimum.
Source to confirm: TPWD Mackerel Bag & Length Limits
More saltwater fish
Others to target
Drum
Red drum (redfish)
Tightly managed with a slot limit and a trophy tag.
- Daily:
- 3 per day.
- Size:
- 20 to 28 inch slot (keep only fish between those sizes).
Trout
Recently changedSpotted seatrout (speckled trout)
A coastal staple with a tight slot to protect breeding fish after hard winter freezes.
- Daily:
- 3 per day.
- Size:
- 15 to 20 inch slot.
Flatfish
Recently changedSouthern flounder
Great on the table, and the one you can also gig at night.
- Daily:
- 5 per day - except November 1 to December 14, when the season is closed and you can't keep any.
- Size:
- 15-inch minimum.
Drum
Black drum
A coastal workhorse, good eating at the smaller end of the slot.
- Daily:
- 5 per day.
- Size:
- 14 to 30 inch slot.
Official sources
Fishing rules for king & spanish mackerel come from Texas Parks & Wildlife. Confirm the size and bag limit before you keep one.
- Data vintage:
- Built on the 2025-2026 license year
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- TPWD Mackerel Bag & Length Limits - Official page for this fish
- TPWD Saltwater Bag & Length Limits
- TPWD Fishing Regulations
Caution: Sizes and bag limits change, and saltwater rules change the most. The official TPWD pages are the final word.
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