TX · REGULATIONS · JUNE 2026

King Mackerel TX legal size & bag limits.

King Mackerel (also known as Kingfish, King) in Texas. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the TPWD guide, 2026.

In Texas, the minimum legal size for King Mackerel is 27 in and the daily bag limit is 3. A slot limit applies: none — 27" minimum length only. There is no closed season in TX.

What is the legal size & bag limit for King Mackerel in TX?

Minimum size
27in
Daily bag
3
Possession
3
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Is there a slot limit for King Mackerel in TX?

none — 27" minimum length only

Is there a closed season for King Mackerel in TX?

No closed season

Why these rules exist

Same statewide on the Texas Gulf coast. Texas state waters (Gulf out to 9 nautical miles). Texas matches the Gulf federal 27" min / 3-fish bag; federal measures are reviewed periodically — re-verify for offshore.

Source & verification

These limits are pulled from the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits. Last verified June 2026.

Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.

Texas requires a fishing licence plus a Saltwater Fishing Endorsement (stamp) to fish in public salt water. Texas fishing licences.

See related

Common questions

What is the minimum legal size for King Mackerel in TX?
In Texas, the minimum legal size for King Mackerel (also known as Kingfish, King) is 27 in. Verified against the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits (June 2026).
What is the bag limit for King Mackerel in TX?
In Texas, the daily bag limit for King Mackerel is 3. Slot rule: none — 27" minimum length only. Verified against the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits (June 2026).
Is there a closed season for King Mackerel in TX?
No — there is no closed season for King Mackerel in Texas. The slot rule applies year-round. You can fish for it year-round, subject to the size and bag limits. Verified against the TPWD guide (June 2026).
Do you need a fishing licence to fish in Texas?
Texas requires a fishing licence plus a Saltwater Fishing Endorsement (stamp) to fish in public salt water.
Written by
Olli-Mikael Vaittinen, founder of Fishare, holding a yellowfin tuna boatside
Olli-Mikael Vaittinen

Olli-Mikael Vaittinen has fished his whole life. Fifteen years of fly fishing, guiding seasons on Norway's Lakselva — his favourite Atlantic salmon river — and a blue marlin landed in Vava'u, Tonga. Founder of Fishare — the app that puts the data behind the decisions every angler makes on the water.

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