Who needs a Texas fishing license
Any person who takes or attempts to take fish, mussels, clams, crayfish or other aquatic life in Texas public waters needs a fishing license with the appropriate endorsement (freshwater for inland waters, saltwater for coastal waters). A hunting license is required for turtles and frogs.
Under 17 years of age; Born before January 1, 1931; Persons with an intellectual disability fishing as part of medically approved therapy under approved supervision (authorization required); Persons with an intellectual disability fishing under direct supervision of a licensed family member or family-approved angler (doctor note required)
Fishing inside a Texas state park needs no license. Free Fishing Day in 2026 fell on 2026-06-06.
TPWD Outdoor Annual, licenses section. Checked October 2026.
Texas fishing license prices
| License or package | Fee | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Freshwater Package | $30 | Texas resident | Fishing license + freshwater endorsement; valid date of sale to Aug 31 |
| Senior Freshwater Package | $12 | Texas resident 65+ (born on/after Jan 1, 1931) | |
| Non-resident Freshwater Package | $58 | Non-resident | |
| Resident Saltwater Package | $35 | Texas resident | Fishing license + saltwater endorsement with red drum and/or spotted seatrout tag |
| Senior Saltwater Package | $17 | Texas resident 65+ | |
| Non-resident Saltwater Package | $63 | Non-resident | |
| Resident All-Water Package | $40 | Texas resident | Valid date of sale to Aug 31 |
| Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package | $47 | Texas resident | Valid from purchase through end of the purchase month of the next license year |
| Senior All-Water Package | $22 | Texas resident 65+ | |
| Non-resident All-Water Package | $68 | Non-resident | |
| One-Day All-Water License (resident) | $11 | Texas resident | No endorsements needed; consecutive days may be bought; one red drum and one seatrout tag available free (limit one per customer) |
| One-Day All-Water License (non-resident) | $16 | Non-resident | Same terms as resident one-day |
| Special Resident All-Water Fishing License | $7 | Texas resident who is legally blind | No endorsements required; includes red drum and seatrout tags |
| Lake Texoma License | $12 | Resident and non-resident | Valid on Lake Texoma only (TX and OK waters) until Dec 31 following issuance |
| Freshwater Fishing Endorsement | $5 | Resident and non-resident | Required with a fishing license to fish public fresh water |
| Saltwater Fishing Endorsement | $10 | Resident and non-resident | Includes red drum tag and spotted seatrout tag |
| Bonus Red Drum Tag | $3 | Resident and non-resident | One per angler per license year |
| Exempt Angler Red Drum Tag | $3 | License-exempt anglers | |
| Exempt Angler Spotted Seatrout Tag | $3 | License-exempt anglers | |
| Limited Public Use Permit | $12 | Resident and non-resident | Required to fish on public hunting land areas |
| Lifetime Resident Fishing Package | $1,000 | Texas resident | By application |
| Lifetime Resident Combination Hunting & Fishing Package | $1,800 | Texas resident | By application |
| Freshwater Fishing Guide License | $132 | Resident and non-resident | |
| Resident All-Water Fishing Guide License | $210 | Texas resident | |
| Non-resident All-Water Fishing Guide License | $1,050 | Non-resident |
TPWD fishing licenses and packages page, retrieved October 2026. Licenses run Sept 1 to Aug 31.
Texas freshwater bag and length limits
| Species | Daily bag | Min (in) | Max (in) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | 5 | 14 | 5 combined for largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, spotted bass | |
| Smallmouth bass | 5 | 14 | 5 combined for largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, spotted bass | |
| Spotted bass | 5 | 5 combined for largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, spotted bass; no minimum length | ||
| Guadalupe bass | 5 | 5 combined for largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, spotted bass; no minimum length | ||
| Alabama bass | 5 | 5 combined for largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, spotted bass; no minimum length | ||
| Striped bass | 5 | 18 | 5 combined with hybrid striped bass; Lake Texoma possession-limit exception | |
| Hybrid striped bass | 5 | 18 | 5 combined with striped bass | |
| White bass | 25 | 10 | ||
| Yellow bass | No limit | No bag or length limit | ||
| Channel catfish | 25 | 25 combined channel/blue and hybrids; only 10 may be 20 in. or longer | ||
| Blue catfish | 25 | 25 combined channel/blue and hybrids; only 10 may be 20 in. or longer | ||
| Flathead catfish | 5 | 18 | ||
| White crappie | 25 | 10 | 25 combined white/black crappie | |
| Black crappie | 25 | 10 | 25 combined white/black crappie | |
| Alligator gar | 1 | Mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours (except Falcon Reservoir); spawning-period closures possible; Falcon possession exception | ||
| Paddlefish | 0 | No harvest allowed | ||
| Saugeye | 5 | Only 2 may be under 16 in. | ||
| Walleye | 5 | Only 2 may be under 16 in. | ||
| Gizzard and threadfin shad | No limit | No bag limit; permit needed if transporting 30+ gallons of containers | ||
| Sunfish (bluegill, redear, green, warmouth, longear) | No limit | No bag or length limit | ||
| Rainbow trout | 5 | 5 combined rainbow and brown trout | ||
| Brown trout | 5 | 5 combined rainbow and brown trout |
TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027). Possession limit is twice the daily bag except as noted (Texoma striped bass, Falcon alligator gar; flounder possession = daily bag).
Texas saltwater bag and length limits
| Species | Daily bag | Min (in) | Max (in) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater amberjack | 1 | 38 | Federal season note on page: 2026 federal season open Sep 1, closes Oct 14 | |
| Striped bass | 5 | 18 | Combined with hybrids | |
| Channel/blue catfish | 25 | Only 10 may be 20 in. or longer | ||
| Flathead catfish | 5 | 18 | ||
| Gafftopsail catfish | No limit | 14 | No bag limit | |
| Cobia | 1 | 40 | ||
| Black drum | 5 | 14 | 30 | 14-30 in. slot |
| Red drum | 3 | 20 | 28 | 20-28 in. slot |
| Southern flounder (all flounder) | 5 | 15 | Closed Nov 1 – Dec 14 (bag 0); possession limit equals daily bag | |
| Alligator gar | 1 | Mandatory harvest reporting | ||
| Black grouper | 4 | 24 | ||
| Gag grouper | 2 | 24 | ||
| Goliath grouper | 0 | Catch and release only | ||
| Nassau grouper | 0 | Catch and release only | ||
| King mackerel | 3 | 27 | ||
| Spanish mackerel | 15 | 14 | ||
| Blue marlin | No limit | 131 | No bag limit | |
| White marlin | No limit | 86 | No bag limit | |
| Mullet | No limit | 12 | Max 12 in. applies only Oct-Jan; no limits other months | |
| Sailfish | No limit | 84 | No bag limit | |
| Spotted seatrout | 3 | 15 | 20 | 15-20 in. slot |
| Atlantic sharpnose shark | 1 | 24 | Shark bag is 1 total across all allowable species; circle hooks required | |
| Blacktip shark | 1 | 24 | Shark bag is 1 total across all allowable species | |
| Bonnethead shark | 1 | 24 | Shark bag is 1 total across all allowable species | |
| Hammerhead shark (smooth, great, scalloped) | 1 | 99 | Shark bag is 1 total across all allowable species | |
| Other allowable sharks | 1 | 64 | Shark bag is 1 total across all allowable species | |
| Prohibited sharks (dusky, sandbar, shortfin mako, silky, white, others) | 0 | Catch and release only | ||
| Sheepshead | 5 | 15 | ||
| Lane snapper | No limit | 8 | No bag limit | |
| Red snapper (state waters) | 4 | 15 | Open year-round in state waters; circle hooks required with natural bait | |
| Red snapper (federal waters, private anglers) | 2 | 16 | 2026 federal season opened May 22; closure date set in-season (page said still open as of Oct 5) | |
| Vermilion snapper | No limit | 10 | No bag limit | |
| Snook | 1 | 24 | 28 | 24-28 in. slot |
| Tarpon | 1 | 85 | ||
| Gray triggerfish | 20 | 16 | ||
| Tripletail | 3 | 17 |
TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027).
Texas lakes with their own fishing rules
TPWD sets different limits on these waters. Lakes with a page on this site are linked.
- Abilene State Park LakeCatfish
- Alan HenryBlack bass
- AthensBlack bass
- BastropGear restrictions, Black bass
- BellwoodGear restrictions, Black bass
- Belton (Bell County)Catfish
- Bob SandlinCatfish
- Boerne City Park LakeGear restrictions
- Brushy Creek Lake and Brushy Creek downstream from the lake to the Williamson/Milam County line
- Buck LakeBlack bass
- CaddoBlack bass, Catfish, Crappie, White bass
- CalaverasCatfish, Drum
- Canyon Lake Project #6
- Casa BlancaBlack bass
- Choke Canyon ReservoirCatfish
- Clear Creek
- Clear Fork Trinity River
- Clear Lake
- Cleburne State Park
- Coffee MillGear restrictions
- Como
- ConroeBlack bass, Catfish
- Davy CrockettGear restrictions, Black bass
- Deputy Darren Goforth Park Lake
- Devils RiverBlack bass
- Elm
- FalconGar
- Fayette CountyGear restrictions, Black bass, Catfish
- Forest ParkBlack bass
- Fort Parker State Park
- Generations ParkBlack bass
- Gilmer ReservoirBlack bass
- GrapevineBlack bass
- Guadalupe RiverTrout
- Houston CountyBlack bass
- Hubbard Creek ReservoirCatfish
- JacksonvilleBlack bass
- Joe PoolBlack bass
- KirbyCatfish, Walleye and saugeye
- KurthBlack bass
- Lady Bird LakeBlack bass, Carp
- BryanGear restrictions
- ForkBlack bass, Crappie
- KyleCatch and Release
- Lake O' the PinesCrappie
- PflugervilleGear restrictions, Black bass
- LavonCatfish
- LewisvilleCatfish
- LivingstonCatfish, Gar
- Lost Maples – LowerBlack bass
- Lost Maples – UpperBlack bass
- Bois d'Arc LakeBlack bass
- Madisonville
- Marine Creek (Ft. Worth)Black bass
- MeredithWalleye and saugeye
- Mill Creek LakeBlack bass
- Mineral Wells
- MonticelloBlack bass
- MossBlack bass
- MurvaulBlack bass
- NacogdochesBlack bass
- NaconicheGear restrictions, Black bass
- NasworthyCrappie
- Neches River
- Nelson ParkBlack bass
- Concho River NorthGear restrictions
- O. H. IvieBlack bass
- PalestineCatfish
- Pilant
- PinkstonGear restrictions, Black bass
- ProctorCatfish
- Purtis Creek State Park LakeGear restrictions, Black bass
- RatcliffCatfish
- RavenBlack bass, Catfish
- Ray HubbardCatfish
- Red RiverCatfish
- Richland ChambersCatfish
- Sabine RiverBlack bass, Catfish, Crappie, White bass, Striped bass and their Hybrids
- Sam RayburnCatfish
- SheldonCatfish
- Concho River SouthGear restrictions
- Sulphur River
- TankersleyGear restrictions
- TawakoniCatfish
- TexomaCatfish, Crappie, Gar, Walleye and saugeye, White bass, Striped bass and their Hybrids
- TimpsonBlack bass
- Toledo BendBlack bass, Catfish, Crappie, White bass, Striped bass and their Hybrids
- Trinity RiverCatfish, Shad, Striped bass and their Hybrids
- Tucker Lake
- BraunigCatfish, Drum
- Village Creek
- WacoCatfish
- Walter E. Long ReservoirBlack bass
- WelshBlack bass
- West Fork Trinity River
- Wheeler Branch ReservoirGear restrictions, Black bass, Walleye and saugeye
TPWD freshwater fishing laws and exceptions, 2026-27 (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027).
Questions about Texas fishing licenses and limits
How much is a Texas fishing license?
The resident freshwater package is $30 for the 2026-27 license year (licenses valid from date of sale through Aug. 31). The license pages carry no explicit date stamp; the Outdoor Annual regulation pages state Valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027. license year; see the price table for every option.
Who needs a fishing license in Texas?
Any person who takes or attempts to take fish, mussels, clams, crayfish or other aquatic life in Texas public waters needs a fishing license with the appropriate endorsement (freshwater for inland waters, saltwater for coastal waters). A hunting license is required for turtles and frogs.
Do kids need a fishing license in Texas?
No. Texas residents under 17 are exempt.
Do I need a license to fish in a Texas state park?
No license is needed to fish from shore or a dock inside a Texas state park.
When is Texas Free Fishing Day?
In 2026 it was 2026-06-06. TPWD sets it as the first Saturday in June.
How many largemouth bass can I keep in Texas?
Five a day in combination with other black bass, 14 inch minimum, unless a lake exception applies.
What is the red drum limit in Texas?
Three a day, 20 to 28 inches, with one oversize fish allowed on a red drum tag.
When do Texas fishing licenses expire?
Annual licenses expire August 31 regardless of when you buy them.
Where are the Texas lake exceptions listed?
The exceptions table on this page lists 96 waters with their own rules.
Check the lake before you keep fish
Each lake page shows whether statewide limits or an exception applies there.