The Texas Gulf Coast is home to some of the largest shark species. These apex predators roam the deep and shallow waters, maintaining balance in marine food chains. Below are the five biggest sharks found in Texas waters, including their characteristics, habitat, and behavior. We left out the whale shark to focus on the predator species.
1. Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
- Size: Up to 20 feet long
- Weight: Over 5,000 pounds
- Habitat: Deep offshore waters, occasionally nearshore
- Diet: Fish, seals, dolphins, sea turtles
Although sightings are rare, great white sharks do appear in the Gulf of Mexico, especially in winter when they migrate south from the Atlantic. In 2024, researchers tracking a tagged great white spotted at South Padre Island. These sharks are known for their massive size and powerful bite force, making them the most feared predator in the ocean. However, attacks on humans in Texas waters are extremely rare.
2. Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
- Size: 10-14 feet long
- Weight: Up to 1,400 pounds
- Habitat: Coastal and offshore waters
- Diet: Fish, sea turtles, birds, rays, even garbage
Tiger sharks are massive predators. They are highly adaptable and most often found often near South Padre Island and Corpus Christi. They get their name from the dark, vertical stripes on their bodies. Tigers are opportunistic feeders, eating almost anything they find, which sometimes includes man-made objects. Their aggressive feeding habits make them one of the top three sharks responsible for attacks on humans.
SHARK SEMINAR AT HOUSTON FISHING SHOW SAT. FEb. 15
The Houston Fishing Show at the George R. Brown Convention Center will host a special seminar by Chester Moore, Editor-In-Chief of Texas Fish & Game and founder of the Gulf Great White Sharks project. Moore’s seminar, titled “The Return of the Great White and Other Giant Sharks in Texas Waters,” is set to shed light on fascinating developments in shark populations along the Texas coastline.
It will take place 1:45 p.m. Saturday Feb. 15.
Moore will discuss an increase in sightings and activity of great whits and other large species in the Gulf of Mexico. He plans to discuss key findings, including tracking data from tagged specimens such as “LeeBeth,” a large great white tagged by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy that showed up at South Padre Island in 2024.
Kids are welcome! The first 10 kids to show up at the seminar will receive a free shark book. Everyone in attendance gets one of these Gulf Great White Sharks decals.
3. Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
- Size: 10-13 feet long
- Weight: Up to 1,200 pounds
- Habitat: Deep offshore waters
- Diet: Fish (including tuna), squid, other sharks
The shortfin mako is the fastest species in the world, capable of reaching speeds of over 45 mph. Found in deeper waters off the Texas Gulf Coast, they are known for their sleek, torpedo-shaped bodies and incredible agility. Makos are powerful hunters, often preying on tuna, swordfish, and other fast-moving fish.
4. Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
- Size: 12-18 feet long
- Weight: Up to 1,300 pounds
- Habitat: Coastal and offshore waters
- Diet: Stingrays, fish, squid, and crustaceans
The great hammerhead, the largest of its kind, is found in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Texas coast. These sharks have a distinctive hammer-shaped head, which improves their vision and ability to detect prey, particularly stingrays. They are often spotted near Galveston, Padre Island, and Port Aransas in the summer.
5. Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
- Size: 7-11 feet long
- Weight: Up to 500 pounds
- Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries, freshwater rivers
- Diet: Fish, rays, smaller sharks, dolphins
Unlike most sharks, bulls can survive in both saltwater and freshwater. They have been found far inland in Texas rivers such as the Trinity and Sabine Rivers. They are known for their aggressive nature and high testosterone levels, making them one of the most dangerous to humans. Because of their ability to hunt in murky waters, they are abundant on the Texas Coast.