TX · REGULATIONS · SEPTEMBER 2026

Tarpon TX legal size & bag limits.

Tarpon (also known as Silver King, Sabalo) 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 Tarpon is 85 in and the daily bag limit is 1 (the 85-inch minimum makes this effectively a trophy-only, release fishery). A slot limit applies: none — 85" minimum length only (effectively trophy-only; nearly all tarpon are released). There is no closed season in TX.

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

Minimum size
85in
Daily bag
1 (the 85-inch minimum makes this effectively a trophy-only, release fishery)
Possession
1 (the 85-inch minimum makes this effectively a trophy-only, release fishery)
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Is there a slot limit for Tarpon in TX?

none — 85" minimum length only (effectively trophy-only; nearly all tarpon are released)

Is there a closed season for Tarpon in TX?

No closed season

Why these rules exist

Same statewide. Texas state waters. The 85" minimum conserves the trophy fishery. (The bag/length page lists no tarpon-tag requirement; do not represent a tarpon tag as required without separate confirmation.)

Source & verification

These limits are pulled from the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits. Last verified September 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 Tarpon in TX?
In Texas, the minimum legal size for Tarpon (also known as Silver King, Sabalo) is 85 in. Verified against the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits (September 2026).
What is the bag limit for Tarpon in TX?
In Texas, the daily bag limit for Tarpon is 1 (the 85-inch minimum makes this effectively a trophy-only, release fishery). Slot rule: none — 85" minimum length only (effectively trophy-only; nearly all tarpon are released). Verified against the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits (September 2026).
Is there a closed season for Tarpon in TX?
No — there is no closed season for Tarpon 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 (September 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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