2026 regulation year
Texas Fishing Regulations 2026 — License Fees, Seasons, Bag Limits
Last updated
Texas runs a single combined fishing licence covering freshwater and saltwater (separate endorsements optional). Year licences run September 1 through August 31; most short-term licences run for the calendar days purchased.
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License fees
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resident annual (freshwater) | $30.00 | |
| Resident annual (saltwater) | $35.00 | |
| Resident all-water package | $40.00 | |
| Resident 1-day all-water | $11.00 | |
| Resident senior (65+) freshwater | $12.00 | Senior all-water package $22; senior saltwater $17 (age 65+) |
| Resident lifetime fishing (all-water) | $1000.00 | Lifetime combo (hunting + fishing) is $1,800 |
| Disabled veteran | Free | Free Super Combo — eligibility required |
| Licence | Price (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident annual freshwater | $58.00 | |
| Non-resident annual saltwater | $63.00 | |
| Non-resident all-water package | $68.00 | |
| Non-resident 1-day all-water | $16.00 | Additional consecutive days may be added at the time of sale; there is no separate multi-day non-resident licence |
Buy directly from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Fees may include processing surcharges at point of sale.
Top species — season, bag, size
| Species | Season | Daily bag | Size / slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bassCompare across states → | Open year-round | 5 / day (most waters) | 14 in minimum; slot limits on listed lakes |
| White bassCompare across states → | Open year-round | 25 / day | 10 in minimum |
| Channel catfishCompare across states → | Open year-round | 25 / day (channel + blue combined) | No minimum length; only 10 may be 20 in+ |
| CrappieCompare across states → | Open year-round | 25 / day | 10 in minimum (most waters) |
| Red drum (saltwater)Compare across states → | Open year-round | 3 / day | 20–28 in slot; one over 28 in per year with tag |
| Spotted seatrout (saltwater)Compare across states → | Open year-round | 3 / day | 15–20 in slot; one over 28 in/yr with tag |
| Southern flounder (saltwater) | Closed Nov 1 – Dec 14 | 5 / day | 15 in minimum |
| Striped bassCompare across states → | Open year-round | 5 / day combined (Lake Texoma 10) | 18 in minimum (no min at Lake Texoma) |
Notable water-body special regulations
Largemouth slot 16–24 in; bass 24 in+ for trophy tag
5-bass daily, 14 in minimum statewide rule applies
Standard 14 in / 5-fish; tournament release rule applies
Largemouth bass 14–18 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 18 in or longer; 8 black bass combined daily, of which no more than 4 may be 18 in or longer (possession 10). Black and white crappie no minimum length, 25 / day. Channel and blue catfish no minimum, 50 combined daily and in possession (only 5 may be 30 in or longer); flathead catfish 18 in minimum, 10 / day. White bass no minimum, 25 / day. A shared TX/LA cypress lake (Harrison/Marion counties) — TX licence valid on TX waters; LA reciprocity required on the LA side
Self-sustaining striped bass fishery shared with Oklahoma. Striped + hybrid striped bass: no minimum length, 10 / day combined (only 2 may be 20 in or longer), 20 in possession — the one Texas water where striper possession is set off the local 10-fish bag rather than twice the statewide 5. A current Texas or Oklahoma fishing licence, or the dedicated Lake Texoma Licence, is valid lake-wide; culling of striped bass is prohibited
Shared TX/LA boundary water; TX licence valid on TX waters, LA reciprocity required for LA waters; tournament release rules apply
International reservoir on Rio Grande (TX/Mexico); TX licence valid on US waters; Mexican fishing permit required to cross into Mexican waters
Largemouth bass: no minimum length, but only two bass under 18 in may be kept per day; 5 black bass combined daily. Texas's hottest trophy-bass and ShareLunker (13 lb+) water in recent winters
Brazos River reservoir with an established striped bass population; returned to the statewide striper rule in 2012 — 5 / day (striped + hybrid striped bass combined), 18 in minimum. A West Texas striper and white-bass water
Designated state paddling trail; portions inside Devils River State Natural Area require access permit; smallmouth bass catch-and-release encouraged
Saltwater statewide slot rules apply (redfish 20–28 in, trout, flounder); seasonal oyster reef harvest closures posted by TPWD
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily — stricter than the statewide no-minimum/25 rule. The statewide alligator gar 1-per-day limit applies. A large South Texas reservoir on the Frio River (Live Oak/McMullen counties)
Highland Lakes chain on the Colorado River (Austin metro); LCRA + TPWD joint reservoir; striped bass + white bass + smallmouth bass fishery — statewide rules apply, no Lake Travis exception (striped bass 5/day + 18 in min; white bass 25/day + 10 in min); largemouth + smallmouth + Guadalupe + spotted bass combined 5/day + 14 in min; year-round open season
Texas Gulf Coast estuary; saltwater statewide slot rules — redfish 20–28 in slot + 3/day (one tag-fish over 28 in permitted per year), spotted seatrout 15–25 in slot + 3/day (Bag-and-Tag rule on trophy over 30 in), southern flounder 14 in min + 5/day; oyster reef seasonal closures posted by TPWD Coastal Fisheries; saltwater stamp + Red Drum tag required
Largemouth bass: no minimum length, but only two bass under 18 in may be kept per day; 5 black bass combined daily. A West Texas Brazos River canyon reservoir (Garza County) managed as a trophy-bass fishery
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. Texas's newest major reservoir (Fannin County, impounded 2021), managed for trophy growth
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 21 in or longer, and only one 21 in+ per day; 5 black bass combined daily. Common carp: only one 33 in or longer may be kept daily. Austin's downtown urban lake (formerly Town Lake)
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 21 in or longer (one 21 in+ max per day); 5 black bass combined daily. A Dallas–Fort Worth metro reservoir
Largemouth bass: no minimum length, but only two bass under 18 in may be kept per day; 5 black bass combined daily. A Dallas–Fort Worth metro reservoir on Denton Creek
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 21 in or longer (one 21 in+ max per day); 5 black bass combined daily. An East Texas reservoir in Henderson County
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot (only one 21 in+ per day); 5 black bass combined daily. Juglines, throwlines, and trotlines are prohibited. A Central Texas power-plant lake with a warm-water year-round bite
Largemouth bass: no minimum length, but only two bass under 18 in may be kept per day; 5 black bass combined daily. An East Texas reservoir in Cherokee County
Largemouth bass 18 in minimum length; 5 black bass combined daily. A South Texas lake at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park in Laredo (Webb County)
Largemouth bass 18 in minimum length; 5 black bass combined daily. A small East Texas reservoir (Upshur County) managed for quality bass
Largemouth bass 16–24 in slot — keep only bass 16 in or shorter or 24 in or longer (one 24 in+ max per day); 5 black bass combined daily. Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum, 15 combined daily. Trotlines prohibited. A warm-water power-plant lake (also called Lake Fayette) known for a year-round bass bite
Largemouth bass 16–24 in slot — keep only bass 16 in or shorter or 24 in or longer (one 24 in+ max per day); 5 black bass combined daily. A Northeast Texas power-plant lake (Titus County) famous for an early-warming winter bass bite
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. An East Texas trophy-managed reservoir
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. A small East Texas power-plant lake (Angelina County) managed for trophy bass
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot (only one 21 in+ per day); 5 black bass combined daily. An East Texas reservoir in Houston County
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot (only one 21 in+ per day); 5 black bass combined daily. A cypress-lined East Texas reservoir in Panola County
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot (only one 21 in+ per day); 5 black bass combined daily. An Austin-area power-plant lake also known as Decker Lake
Red drum 20 in minimum length, 3 per day — a stocked inland redfish fishery. Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum, 15 combined daily. A San Antonio power-plant lake (Bexar County), one of the few inland Texas waters stocked with red drum
Red drum 20 in minimum length, 3 per day — a stocked inland redfish fishery. Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum, 15 combined daily. A San Antonio power-plant lake (Victor Braunig Lake) stocked with red drum and catfish
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. Fishing is by pole and line only. A trophy-bass lake at Purtis Creek State Park
Texas's only year-round trout tailwater, below Canyon Dam (Comal County). From the Canyon Dam release down to the easternmost Hwy 306 bridge: rainbow and brown trout 12–18 in slot, 5 per day with only one 18 in or longer, artificial lures only. From the Hwy 306 bridge down to the second River Road crossing: trout 18 in minimum, 1 per day, artificial lures only
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A large East Texas reservoir on the Neches River
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A major Dallas-metro reservoir on the East Fork of the Trinity River
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. One of Texas's largest reservoirs (Freestone/Navarro counties), a top trophy blue-catfish water
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A Central Texas reservoir on the Bosque River
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A Central Texas reservoir on the Leon River
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A Dallas-metro reservoir (Collin County) on the East Fork of the Trinity River
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A Northeast Texas reservoir popular for bass and catfish
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 21 in or longer (one 21 in+ max per day); 5 black bass combined daily. Trotlines prohibited. A small Shelby County lake with a big-bass reputation
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. Juglines, throwlines, and trotlines prohibited. A newer East Texas trophy-bass lake (Nacogdoches County)
Largemouth bass 18 in minimum length; 5 black bass combined daily. A Northeast Texas power-plant lake (Titus County)
Largemouth bass 18 in minimum length; 5 black bass combined daily. A Fort Worth urban reservoir
Largemouth bass 18 in minimum length; 5 black bass combined daily. Fishing is by pole and line only. An Austin-metro community reservoir
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. Channel and blue catfish 14 in minimum, 15 combined daily. Fishing by pole and line, no more than two poles. The lake at Huntsville State Park (Walker County)
Largemouth bass 14–21 in slot — keep only bass 14 in or shorter or 21 in or longer (one 21 in+ max per day); 5 black bass combined daily. Fishing is by pole and line only. A small clear-water Somervell County reservoir
Catch-and-release only for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and all sunfish — no harvest of those species. Fishing by pole and line, no more than two poles. A small Central Texas city lake (Hays County)
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A large West Texas reservoir on Hubbard Creek near Breckenridge (Stephens County), a top blue-catfish water
Channel and blue catfish: no minimum length, 25 combined daily, of which only 5 may be 20 in or longer and only 1 of those 30 in or longer. A small Abilene municipal lake (Taylor County)
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily — stricter than the statewide no-minimum/25 rule. A Central Texas USACE reservoir on the Leon River (Comanche County)
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily. Fishing is by pole and line only, no more than two poles. The lake at Sheldon Lake State Park on the northeast edge of Houston (Harris County)
Blue and channel catfish 14 in minimum length, 15 combined daily. Fishing is by pole and line only, no more than two poles. The lake at Abilene State Park (Taylor County)
Black and white crappie: no minimum length, 25 combined daily — the statewide 10 in crappie minimum is lifted here. A San Angelo reservoir on the South Concho River (Tom Green County)
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. A North Texas reservoir near Gainesville (Cooke County), managed for trophy bass
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. An East Texas lake in Van Zandt County, managed for trophy bass
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. Juglines, throwlines, and trotlines are prohibited. A Tyler municipal lake (Smith County), managed for trophy bass
Largemouth bass 16 in maximum — only bass 16 in or shorter may be kept; 5 black bass combined daily; a bass 24 in or longer may be held briefly for a ShareLunker weigh-in, then released. Juglines, throwlines, and trotlines are prohibited. A small North Texas lake in Fannin County, managed for trophy bass
Lost Maples State Natural Area
Catch-and-release only for all five species of black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Guadalupe, and Alabama). Fishing is by pole and line only, no more than two poles. The Sabinal River within Lost Maples State Natural Area (Bandera County)
Sabine River (below Toledo Bend Dam)
Below Toledo Bend Dam, largemouth bass 12 in minimum, 8 black bass combined daily — a more generous bag than the statewide 14 in / 5. From the dam down to the I.H. 10 bridge: striped bass no minimum, 5 / day (only 2 may be 30 in or longer); white bass no minimum, 25 / day; black and white crappie no minimum, 25 / day; channel and blue catfish no minimum, 50 combined daily and in possession (only 5 may be 30 in or longer), plus flathead catfish 18 in minimum, 10 / day. Shared TX/LA boundary water — Texas licence valid on Texas waters, Louisiana reciprocity required on the Louisiana side
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a fishing license to fish in Texas?
- Yes. Texas requires residents and non-residents alike to hold a valid fishing license, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. Buy directly from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; resident and non-resident fees are listed in the tables above.
- How much is a fishing license in Texas?
- Resident fees range from $11.00 (resident 1-day all-water) to $1000.00 (resident lifetime fishing (all-water)); Non-resident fees range from $16.00 (non-resident 1-day all-water) to $68.00 (non-resident all-water package). The full breakdown — annual, multi-day, senior, and lifetime options — is in the license-fee tables above, and you can compare Texas against every other state on the license-fee comparator.
- What fish can you catch in Texas?
- Texas anglers most commonly target Largemouth bass, White bass, Channel catfish, Crappie, Red drum (saltwater), Spotted seatrout (saltwater), and others. Each species sets its own season, daily bag, and size or slot limit — compare them in the species table above, or open a species page for the full 2026 rule.
- When does fishing season open in Texas?
- It depends on the species — Texas sets a separate season for each. Warmwater fish like bass, catfish, and panfish are open year-round in most of the state, while trout, walleye, salmon, and other cold-water or migratory species have dated seasons. The season column in the table above shows each one, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department can shift dates by emergency order.
- Are there special fishing rules on specific Texas waters?
- Yes. 62 named Texas waters carry regulations that differ from the statewide rule, including Lake Fork Reservoir, Lake Falcon, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and 59 more. See the notable water-body special regulations above for the exact rule on each.
Official source
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is the authoritative source for Texas fishing regulations. Always verify rules before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override published booklets.
Visit official Texas fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's emergency-order feed — check it before any Texas trip during the active season.