No confirmed photo of Atlantic angel shark
Atlantic angel shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
Sharks in Texas: Species, Stingrays & Safety
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: There are about 40 shark species found in the Texas waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
This page lists 36 sharks, rays and other marine animals: 27 from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's TPWD Outdoor Annual: Shark Limits & Identification; Shark Bag & Length Limits; Prohibited Shark Species and 9 named in other official sources. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department gives a total of 40; the 36 here are the sharks, rays and other marine animals official sources name one by one.
Which sharks, rays and other marine animals can hurt you
Official sources single out these sharks, rays and other marine animals in Texas, in their own words:
-
Photo: Kristof Zyskowski · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Lionfish
Venomous spines, painful sting (USGS). “The dorsal- and anal-fin spines of the lionfish contain a potent venom that can administer a painful sting” USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
-
Portuguese man-of-war and jellyfish
Stinging capsules. “Jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-wars have special stinging capsules called nematocysts that deliver an uncomfortable sting.” National Park Service
-
Photo: Josiah Londerée · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Sea nettle
Powerful sting (NPS, Padre Island). “Like the land plant which shares its name, the Sea nettle packs a powerful sting.” National Park Service
-
Stingrays
Tail barb causes wounds when stepped on (NPS, Padre Island). “When stepped on, stingrays will whip their tail inflicting a laceration or puncture wound.” National Park Service
All 36 sharks, rays and other marine animals
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
No confirmed photo of Atlantic sharpnose shark
Atlantic sharpnose shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (TPWD bag limit 1; min 24 in.)
No confirmed photo of Basking shark
Basking shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Bigeye sand tiger shark
Bigeye sand tiger shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Bigeye sixgill shark
Bigeye sixgill shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Bigeye thresher shark
Bigeye thresher shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Bignose shark
Bignose shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Blacknose shark
Blacknose shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
No confirmed photo of Blacktip shark
Blacktip shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (TPWD bag limit 1; min 24 in.)
Blue shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
No confirmed photo of Bonnethead shark
Bonnethead shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (TPWD bag limit 1; min 24 in.)
No confirmed photo of Bull shark
Bull shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
No confirmed photo of Caribbean reef shark
Caribbean reef shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Caribbean sharpnose shark
Caribbean sharpnose shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Dusky shark
Dusky shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Finetooth shark
Finetooth shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
No confirmed photo of Galapagos shark
Galapagos shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Hammerhead sharks (smooth, great, scalloped)
Hammerhead sharks (smooth, great, scalloped)
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 99 in.)
Lemon shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
No confirmed photo of Longfin mako shark
Longfin mako shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Narrowtooth shark
Narrowtooth shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Night shark
Night shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
Nurse shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
Oceanic Whitetip shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Sand tiger shark
Sand tiger shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Sandbar shark
Sandbar shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Sevengill shark
Sevengill shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Shortfin mako shark
Shortfin mako shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Silky shark
Silky shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Sixgill shark
Sixgill shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Smalltail shark
Smalltail shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
No confirmed photo of Spinner shark
Spinner shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
No confirmed photo of Thresher shark
Thresher shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
Tiger shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Allowable (min 64 in.)
Whale shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
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White shark
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Conservation
- Prohibited species (TPWD zero bag limit)
When sharks, rays and other marine animals are active in Texas
Records of sharks, rays and other marine animals in Texas peak in April to June and September to November. They show when people record sharks, rays and other marine animals, not how many there are (about month bars).
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
Official advice from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:
- Shark anglers: release any shark you cannot identify. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
How to report
Aquatic invasive species: email [email protected] (TPWD). TPWD general phone: (512) 389-4800 or (800) 792-1112. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
What official sources say
Are there sharks in Texas?
Yes. TPWD: about 40 shark species in the Texas waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
“There are about 40 shark species found in the Texas waters of the Gulf of Mexico.”
About this list
The species list comes from TPWD Outdoor Annual: Shark Limits & Identification; Shark Bag & Length Limits; Prohibited Shark Species (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027). 9 more entries come from other official sources named on each card.
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Sources
- Mission & Philosophy. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Shark Bag & Length Limits (Outdoor Annual). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027; checked November 3, 2026.
- TPWD email bulletin: Sharks? We've got a few in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (GovDelivery bulletin). July 26, 2018; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“There are about 40 shark species found in the Texas waters of the Gulf of Mexico.”
- Shark Limits & Identification (Outdoor Annual). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Outdoor Annual; checked November 3, 2026.
- Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) - Species Profile. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Revision date 2/19/2025; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“The dorsal- and anal-fin spines of the lionfish contain a potent venom that can administer a painful sting”
- Safety - Padre Island National Seashore. National Park Service. updated March 4, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-wars have special stinging capsules called nematocysts that deliver an uncomfortable sting.”
“When stepped on, stingrays will whip their tail inflicting a laceration or puncture wound.”
- Other Invertebrates - Padre Island National Seashore. National Park Service. updated February 18, 2025; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Like the land plant which shares its name, the Sea nettle packs a powerful sting.”
- Prohibited Shark Species (Outdoor Annual). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Outdoor Annual 2026-27; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“If you catch a shark and are unsure of the species identification, release it.”
- TPWD Wildlife Fact Sheet: Aquatic Invasive Species. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“For information or to report sightings of aquatic invasive species, email [email protected].”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.