Sleek, silvery-gray shark with black-tipped pectoral, dorsal, and tail fins (anal fin usually pale - a key ID vs. spinner). The classic Galveston surf shark, most caught 3-5 ft (20-70 lb).
⚖ Texas limits · 2026-27 license year Sharks: 1/day all species combined · non-offset non-stainless circle hooks required in state waters · 24″ min · verify at TPWD →
On the water
WhenPrime spring and fall runs (April-June and September-November) as bait migrates, though present all warm season. Fish moving tides, low-light dawn/dusk and night; clean-to-lightly-stained water with active bait is ideal.WhereGalveston beachfront surf (guts and second/third bar), both jetties, the ship channel, nearshore around bait pods and close-in rigs/wrecks, and along the beach off Bolivar and the west end. Concentrated wherever mullet and menhaden school.HowSurf casting is the go-to: cast or kayak cut/live bait to the guts on a fish-finder rig, or free-line a live mullet under a float in a rip. Jetty and channel: bottom-soak cut bait. Nearshore: drift or anchor and chum near bait schools. They readily hit lures/spoons worked fast when feeding on top.BehaviorFast, schooling pursuit predator keyed on menhaden and mullet. Famous for launching clear of the water and spinning after fleeing baitfish; feeding frenzies form on bait balls, and a chum/oily-bait scent trail pulls them in.The fightFast, acrobatic, and hard-running - frequent jumps and blistering runs make them a favorite light-tackle and surf sportfish.
Baits that work
Fresh cut mullet
Live or cut menhaden (shad)
Live mullet
Cut whiting/croaker
Ladyfish chunks
Squid (smaller fish)
Tackle
Rod & reel8-10 ft medium-heavy surf rod with 6000-10000 spinner or 4/0 conventional; a 7-8 ft MH spinner is plenty for most bay/jetty blacktips.Line30-50 lb braid or mono; 40-50 lb for larger surf fish.Leader12-18 in of 90-175 lb single-strand or coated wire (they cut mono), joined to a 3-5 ft 100-200 lb mono shock leader.Terminal8/0-12/0 non-offset, non-stainless CIRCLE hooks (required by law); size to bait.RigFish-finder/Carolina rig with a sliding sinker for bottom; popping cork or balloon float for suspended live bait in the surf/current.
The bait clock
☀ DawnFresh cut mullet or whiting
Blacktips run the guts at first light chasing the same bait schools as the night feed.
☼ MiddayCut mullet, whiting, or half jack
The most day-active Texas surf shark; casted cut baits produce through midday in summer.
☾ DuskFresh cut mullet on casted rig
Evening bait movement in the first and second guts turns the bite on.
★ NightFresh oily cut bait (mullet/menhaden)
Classic night surf sharking; blacktips feed heavily on scent after dark.
Handling & releaseLegal to keep (24 in min, 1/day). For release, keep the fish wet, minimize handling and air time, use a de-hooker or cut the leader on deeply-hooked fish, and revive in moving water. Do not gaff fish you intend to release; watch the thrashing tail and teeth.On the tableOne of the better-eating sharks - mild, firm 'shark steak.' Lower-to-moderate mercury relative to big apex sharks but still a shark, so eat in moderation. Bleed and ice immediately or urea gives an ammonia off-flavor.As baitNot commonly used as bait - more of a table/sport fish. Occasionally cut for larger-shark bait.
The bar to beat
Texas state record
190.0 lb · 97.0″ — Davey Wright
Gulf of Mexico, TX, 2003
World record
270.56 lb — Jurgen Oeder
Malindi Bay, Kenya, 1984
Records as compiled in the IronJetty guide (Aug 2026) — verify current marks with TPWD records / IGFA.
