Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Texas
Legal with restrictionsInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
Nongame fish, crabs, crayfish, and shrimp only — saltwater nongame fish may be taken for bait purposes only.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- 14 ft diameter (7 ft radius) — Texas states this explicitly as a diameter
- Mesh
- Not specified for cast nets
- Water type
- Both freshwater and saltwater
- License
- Yes — valid Texas fishing license with the appropriate endorsement
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — Choose a size up to 7 ft radius to stay under Texas's 14 ft diameter cap.
Official source
Verified directly against the TPWD page and Texas Administrative Code text as a spot-check source for this project — confirmed as a diameter, not a radius.
Last verified: 2026-07-08
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