Spotted seatrout
Cynoscion nebulosus
Regular slot: 15–20 inches. Fish over 20 through 28 inches cannot be retained. One over 28 inches with a Spotted Seatrout Tag, plus one with a Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag, may be kept per license year in addition to daily bag and possession limits. Follow current tagging requirements.
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
Silvery sides below a gray-green back, dark spots on the back and fins, and prominent canine teeth in the upper jaw.
Habitat & biology
Uses coastal bays and estuaries, including shallow seagrass habitat. Seasonal temperature changes can shift its distribution. Food changes with fish size: smaller fish eat crustaceans, while larger trout eat more fish.
Fishing knowledge
Use the species’ documented prey and habitat to understand the fishery. A tide, moon phase or pressure trend alone does not establish a feeding window.
Species-level knowledge, not current fishing activity or a bay-specific catch forecast.
TPWD species reference ↗Not Listed in Advisory for this named bay in the reviewed DSHS index. Nearby water may have different restrictions; this is not a safety guarantee.
Exact areas & meal guidance →Source scope
Upper Laguna Madre
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: Upper Laguna Madre. Historical records establish recorded occurrence, not current abundance. Artwork is illustrative scenery, not a geographical survey or a conditions feed.