TexasCHLforum.com

I will be going to South Padre Island this week and wanted to get some clarification on carrying while on my boat. I have CHL obviously so I assume it is OK, but do I have to keep my gun on me. Can I put it in the glovebox, tacklebox, or elsewhere? I would wrather take my gun with me as opposed to leaving it in my truck at the marina...... Anybody have some advice? Thanks for reading folks!

Spanky

How far off shore do you plan on going? And can you lock your glovebox? Any people on board that would not be allowed to purchase a handgun (other than the age qualifications)?

I'll mostly be in the bays, but may go into the gulf a bit but not way out. Locking glove box....everyone on boat is an adult with no criminal history. Just regular folks going fishing. I searched the forum but can't find anythng concrete. I am surprised that nobody has encountered this on here before.

Ive been deep sea fishing in the coast ,both me and my brother in law both had ours on us.

If you're within 3 nautical miles of shore, Texas law is fully in effect, so you'd just need to carry like you do normally with your CHL. Beyond 3 NM and within 12 NM, you're beyond Texas but still within full federal jurisdiction, so federal compliance is all you'd need to worry about (no unregistered SRBs, etc.). Ergo, federal possession restrictions for felons and the like apply, but you'd no longer need a CHL to carry, or to conceal when you do, and the like. Beyond 12 NM, there's even less law overall, but nothing that'd really affect you while you're fishing. And remember that if you're aboard an US-flagged or US-registered ship, the Coast Guard can board you anywhere in the world; if that happens, they ask about guns, and let them know.

IANAL, but my ex was an officer in the Navy, so the topic came up frequently

Oh! It suddenly occurs - careful about how far south you might sail if you're going underway from South Padre. If you do go out into the gulf, be damn sure you don't stray south of the Mexican boarder with a single round of ammo, let alone a gun. It extends in a straight line out into the water from the land border, 24 NM for arms-importation law compliance, and a full 200 NM for the purposes of you fishing their fish. Only catch American fish

Thanks for the help folks. It looks like I will be fine. I knew I would get some good info here.....