SharkIN THE FISH ID CAMERATABLE: Do Not EatDIFFICULTY
Stocky brown-gray shark with a very tall, upright, large first dorsal fin set well forward (its standout ID feature) and a ridge between the dorsals. Caught around Galveston at roughly 4-7 ft (50-150 lb) nearshore and off the beach.
⚖ Texas limits · 2026-27 license year PROHIBITED — catch and release only (0 bag) · verify at TPWD →
On the water
WhenWarm season, spring through fall. Feeds largely near the bottom, day or night, best on moving tide; often hooked while bottom fishing beachfront/nearshore.WhereNearshore Galveston waters over sand/mud bottom, the ship channel and Bolivar Roads, deeper beachfront guts, and around nearshore rigs and wrecks. Juveniles use nearshore/bay-mouth areas; a common nearshore bycatch.HowBottom fishing with cut/whole baits nearshore, off the beach, or in the ship channel on a fish-finder rig. Frequently caught by anglers targeting bull sharks or bull reds. NOTE: because this species is PROHIBITED, target other sharks and release any sandbar immediately.BehaviorA bottom-oriented predator on fish, rays, and crustaceans. Not a leaper or surface feeder - it works structure and bottom scent, so bottom-soaked cut bait in the channel and nearshore is what connects.The fightStrong, dogged, bulldogging bottom fight with hard runs - similar feel to a bull shark; be efficient so the fish can be released quickly and healthy.
Baits that work
Fresh cut mullet
Cut menhaden/whiting/croaker
Whole small fish
Squid/ladyfish chunks
Tackle
Rod & reel8-12 ft heavy surf/conventional or 4/0-6/0 class reel - same big-bottom gear used for bull sharks nearshore.Line50-80 lb mono or 65-100 lb braid with a mono topshot.LeaderShort 175-480 lb single-strand/cable bite section crimped to the hook, above 4-8 ft of 200-400 lb mono shock leader.Terminal12/0-16/0 non-offset, non-stainless CIRCLE hooks (required) - circles are especially important to allow quick, healthy release of this prohibited species.RigSliding fish-finder rig with a heavy pyramid/spider sinker on the bottom.
The bait clock
☀ DawnFresh cut mullet or whiting
Winter sandbars still prowling from the night feed take scent baits early.
☼ MiddayCut mullet or jack chunk beyond the bars
Daytime bites come on longer casts/yak drops to deeper winter guts.
☾ DuskFresh oily cut bait
Evening starts the prime feeding period for this cool-season shark.
★ NightLarge fresh cut bait (mullet, jack, ray)
Sandbars are the marquee Texas winter night-surf shark; dark soaks produce the big females.
[{'months': [12, 1, 2, 3], 'note': 'Cool-season fishery: sandbars replace blacktips in the winter surf.'}]
Handling & releasePROHIBITED SPECIES - must be released IMMEDIATELY and, per TX rules, without removing it from the water. Do not drag it onto the beach or boat, do not gaff it. Cut the leader as close to the hook as safely possible if it isn't easily unhooked in the water; keep it wet, support it, and let it swim off. If you can't confidently ID a shark, release it. Its tall dorsal + interdorsal ridge are the key ID cues.On the tablePROHIBITED in Texas - may not be retained regardless of size, so it is not a legal food fish here. Release it.As baitMay not be retained in TX, so it cannot legally be used as bait - release immediately.
The bar to beat
Texas state record
226.0 lb · 92.0″ — James Wilson
Gulf of Mexico, TX, 1975
World record
529.06 lb — Patrick Sebile
Bijagos, Guinea-Bissau, 2002
Records as compiled in the IronJetty guide (Aug 2026) — verify current marks with TPWD records / IGFA. Now a prohibited species in Texas — the state record dates to 1975.
