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I am planning on going shark fishing out on the coast of Galveston. I don't know how the law goes, but my question is...

If I caught a shark and its about 5-6 foot long, am I allowed to pull my handgun out and shoot the shark to kill it?

If you are not fishing offshore....I would strongly suggest that you not do that!
Jason

If you are fishing from a pier or in the surf, it's a bad idea. If you have landed the shark in a boat, it's a really bad idea.

Just say I am fishing out near the oil rigs. Is it still illegal to do so?

If its a game fish, I don't see why it would be. In any other case, you may find yourself trying to justify that shooting the animal was your last, and only, resort. If its not a game fish, I can't see any reason why cutting the line wouldn't be more advisable.

Hehe, fish hunting...

Be careful! When I was a kid, me and a buddy were fishing in a plastic jon boat. A cotton mouth dropped in the boat, and my buddy shot it. We made it about 100yrds from the truck before swimming. After it was said and done, I would have rather faced that snake than my buddy's dad (boat owner).

NguyenVanDon wrote:Just say I am fishing out near the oil rigs. Is it still illegal to do so?

Black gold! If you see a big spew of black.......bring me a couple of buckets

Why would it not be legal to shoot a shark? If you can hook its mouth, drag it from its environment and suffocate it, why not shoot it?

Or are there sea-going laws involved regarding firearms?

txinvestigator wrote:Why would it not be legal to shoot a shark?

There are often complicated rules about game. For instance, it's illegal in many places to spear fish without first catching them on a line or in a net.

I don't know of any regulation about shooting sharks, but then I've never gone fishing for them.

BTW, it is illegal to discharge a firearm for any reason on the east end of Galveston, or within 500 feet of a residence or commercial structure on the west end. That's pretty much everywhere except the state park and the private ranges.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:Why would it not be legal to shoot a shark?

There are often complicated rules about game. For instance, it's illegal in many places to spear fish without first catching them on a line or in a net.

I don't know of any regulation about shooting sharks, but then I've never gone fishing for them.

BTW, it is illegal to discharge a firearm for any reason on the east end of Galveston, or within 500 feet of a residence or commercial structure on the west end. That's pretty much everywhere except the state park and the private ranges.

- Jim

I knew Galveston had restrictions, but don't they make exception for gun ranges and rights granted by law (like self-defense)?

I just read Galveston's ordinances, and they have one prohibiting CHL carry in city owned premises. Seems to be in conflict with TPC 30.06.

txinvestigator wrote:I knew Galveston had restrictions, but don't they make exception for gun ranges and rights granted by law (like self-defense)?

I just read Galveston's ordinances, and they have one prohibiting CHL carry in city owned premises. Seems to be in conflict with TPC 30.06.

Gun ranges, yes. Lawful purposes, no.

I know of no case where a citizen (non-LEO) has discharged a firearm for lawful self defense within the city limits in the eleven years I've been living here. (I certainly could have forgotten.)

Most city facilities are posted with a variety of signs that do not comply with state law (parks aren't, that I have noticed). I suspect the municipal code has never been updated to recognize CHL.

- Jim

NguyenVanDon wrote:I am planning on going shark fishing out on the coast of Galveston. I don't know how the law goes, but my question is...

If I caught a shark and its about 5-6 foot long, am I allowed to pull my handgun out and shoot the shark to kill it?

I'm not an expert, but city it seems that city ordinances would not be in effect once one is 3 or so miles out. As far as I know catching of sharks is not regulated in any way, there are no size weight or or seasonable limits. I don't know what size boat you will be in, but boarding a 6 ft shark in a 15 foot jon boat can put a whole different meaning to shooting fish in a barrel. You will also find that killing a shark with pistol might not not be as easy as it sounds. They are tough creatures. Use a gaff!

Liberty wrote:I'm not an expert, but city it seems that city ordinances would not be in effect once one is 3 or so miles out.

I'm not an expert, either; but I think city authority ends at the waterline. Galveston has no police boats.

I brought it up in case anyone was thinking of fishing from shore.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:

Liberty wrote:I'm not an expert, but city it seems that city ordinances would not be in effect once one is 3 or so miles out.

I'm not an expert, either; but I think city authority ends at the waterline. Galveston has no police boats.

I brought it up in case anyone was thinking of fishing from shore.

- Jim

I too am far from an expert, but I thought salt water surroundings and firearms don't like to play we with each other. I could have sworn I read somewhere that navy seals and other units working in areas such as these use a special coating that would protect them from the salty air. But I say again I could be mistaken.

I asked my son, who sails the south Texas coast and is regularly armed, what he thinks about this.

He advises that there is nothing illegal about having firearms in the bays, estuaries, or open sea, as many fall duck hunters will attest. Whether hunting or fishing, though, all game laws and licensing requirements must be adhered to. Sharks are not regulated as game fish, but other fish may be caught which are, so a license may prevent a citation. Game and Fish officers may search in coolers for fish, and do safety inspections, so it's best to have licenses and safety equipment in order.

Outside the 12-mile limits of territorial waters, you are no longer in the United States, and our game and gun laws do not apply. However, a U. S. registered vessel is still subject to Coast Guard inspection. Again, have your vessel's registration and your ID handy, and tell the coasties that you have firearms on board, and that you'll just stand back and watch while they perform the inspection. You won't be dealing with officer material here, either, and they probably will not be familiar with CHL laws. Having firearms on board is perfectly legal, though, and should not be a concern to them. Most "safety inspections" are really searches for drugs or other contraband. Be polite, and keep things simple. Don't annoy them, as their guns are bigger than yours.

There is another area of concern, as well. If you are near a U. S. Navy facility, or near a moored naval vessel, do not do anything which may seem unusual. Taking photos or observing with binoculars could get you rushed, and possibly boarded by Navy security. Showing a firearm most surely will. In the space of less than a minute, you could be staring at four clueless boys in a launch, barely out of high school, pointing M4s at you, and who may believe that you are a terrorist. While they have no authority to enforce laws, situations involving kids and guns can get ugly in a hurry. Keep a very low profile if you pass by a Navy vessel, moored or underway.