Spanish mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Texas recreational limits for Spanish mackerel: daily bag 15; minimum length 14 inches; no maximum listed. General possession limit is 30. This does not apply to king mackerel.
Texas recreational state waters · Regulation reference 2026-09-01–2027-08-31. General license, gear and area restrictions still apply.
TPWD rule source ↗
Identify your catch
A streamlined silver fish with yellow-gold spots, a dark front dorsal-fin patch and a lateral line that slopes gradually toward the tail. King mackerel has a sharper drop in its lateral line.
Habitat & biology
Uses inshore, nearshore and offshore coastal waters. A schooling coastal predator. Identification matters because king and Spanish mackerel have different limits.
Fishing knowledge
Check the lateral line and first dorsal fin rather than relying on spots alone to separate mackerels.
Species-level knowledge, not current fishing activity or a bay-specific catch forecast.
FWC identification & biology ↗Not named in Advisory 50, but all fish are covered in the specified Houston Ship Channel area.
Exact areas & meal guidance →Source scope
Galveston Bay
Recorded occurrence is historical evidence, not an abundance estimate or a promise of a common local catch.
Official species record evidence ↗Before you go
Sources & coastal evidence
Coastal reference review 2026-10-14. Record evidence: Galveston Bay. Historical records establish recorded occurrence, not current abundance. Artwork is illustrative scenery, not a geographical survey or a conditions feed.