Tex. Parks & Wild. Code Section 66.016
Commercial Fishing Regulations Applicable if Commercial Plates on Board

(a)

A person on board a boat licensed or required to be licensed for a commercial fishing activity under Chapter 47 (Commercial Fishing Licenses), 76 (Oysters), 77 (Shrimp), or 78 (Mussels, Clams, and Crabs), or any other chapter of this code may not catch and retain any fish species whose sale is prohibited when taken from Texas waters. While commercial fishing plates are on board, all commercial fishing regulations, size limits, bag limits, possession limits, and the prohibited possession of noncommercial fish species apply.

(b)

Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a person on board a boat licensed under Chapter 47 (Commercial Fishing Licenses), 76 (Oysters), 77 (Shrimp), or 78 (Mussels, Clams, and Crabs) of this code if no commercial fishing plates are on board. While no commercial fishing plates are on board, all recreational fishing regulations, size limits, bag limits, and possession limits apply.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 73, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 455, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Source: Section 66.016 — Commercial Fishing Regulations Applicable if Commercial Plates on Board, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/PW/htm/PW.­66.­htm#66.­016 (accessed May 26, 2025).

66.001
Definitions 66.002
Consent to Take Fish from Private Water 66.003
Placing Explosives or Harmful Substances in Water 66.004
Taking of Fish by Electric Shock Prohibited 66.005
Wilful Destruction of Boat, Seine, or Net 66.006
Possession of Illegal Fishing Devices 66.007
Exotic Harmful or Potentially Harmful Fish and Shellfish 66.008
Fishing from Bridge 66.009
Navigation Districts 66.011
Leaving Fish to Die 66.012
Penalties 66.013
Federal Grants 66.014
Identification of Vehicle Transporting Aquatic Products 66.015
Introduction of Fish, Shellfish, and Aquatic Plants 66.016
Commercial Fishing Regulations Applicable if Commercial Plates on Board 66.017
License, Tag, and Permit Expirations and Transfers 66.018
Crab Trap Tags 66.019
Statistical Reports 66.020
Sale and Purchase of Protected Fish 66.021
Protected Fish: Display of Documents 66.022
Purchase for Evidence 66.023
Fraud in Fishing Tournaments 66.024
Seagrass Plants 66.0071
Removal of Harmful Aquatic Plants 66.0072
Exotic Harmful or Potentially Harmful Aquatic Plants 66.0073
Rules Requiring Water to Be Drained 66.0091
Fishing in Certain Man-made Waterways 66.102
Placing Prohibited Devices in Public Water 66.109
Fish Ladders 66.110
Screens to Protect Fish 66.111
Sale and Purchase of Certain Fish 66.114
Game and Nongame Fish Defined: Commission Proclamation 66.115
Handfishing 66.121
Penalty 66.204
Vessels and Obstructions in Fish Passes 66.206
Trotline Tags 66.208
Commercial Joint Fishing Ventures 66.215
Tags for Noncommercial Nets and Seines 66.216
Possession of Headed or Tailed Fish 66.217
Finfish Research 66.218
Penalties 66.301
Definition 66.303
Prohibited Acts 66.304
Port Authorities and Navigation Districts 66.305
Harbor Pilots 66.306
Enforcement 66.307
Political Asylum 66.308
Penalty 66.2011
Red Drum and Speckled Sea Trout: Penalties 66.2012
Regulation of Commercial Uses of Redfish and Speckled Sea Trout 66.2161
Sale or Purchase of Shark Fins or Shark Fin Products
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Verified:
May 26, 2025

§ 66.016. Commercial Fishing Regulations Applicable if Commercial Plates on Bd.'s source at texas​.gov