There are many good reasons to fish in Texas, and Texans are just as proud of their lakes as they are their state. After all, many of our lakes make it on the Top 10 best bass lakes in the nation list year after year. Any good Texan will tell you how amazing it is here. Fact. But without getting into that, let’s just focus on what you need to know if you’re going to fish in the Lonestar State.
Who needs a Texas fishing license?
If you are a resident or non-resident over the age of 17, and are fishing public waters – no matter the method – you will need a license. That goes for cane poles, bows, regular fishing rods and reels, that make-shift rod you constructed out of paperclips, shoe string, and soda cans etc. Here is a list of legal devices you can use to catch fish. If you find yourself at the young age of 65 or over, Texas likes to cut you a bit of a break and offers a Senior Resident Fishing License.
The rates sometimes change, so rather than us state them here and be wrong, you can find the most current and up-to-date license fees on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
At the time this article was published, the rates from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) are as follows:
What kind of fishing license can I get in Texas?
Because Texas borders the Gulf of Mexico, you can get a freshwater license, a saltwater license, or a combination of both that we like to call an All-water package. As you can imagine, if you are visiting from out of state you will need a non-resident license, and those fees will be slightly higher than the resident licenses, just like in most other states.
Is it free to fish in Texas State Parks?
Yes and no. Do you need a license to fish in a Texas Parks and Wildlife State Park? No. But, you will have to pay a fee to enter the park in order to fish. As long as you fish on the docks or along the banks inside the state park, then you do not need a fishing license. But, the park must be marked with one of the following little green squares with the TPWD logo for these to rules apply.
What is a slot-lake?
Slot lakes have limits or length regulations for bass to improve the quality of the fishing. Fish that measure within the slot limit must be released immediately while fish that are either shorter or longer than the protected range may be kept. For example, on a lake with a 14 to 18 inch slot length limit on bass, you cannot keep any bass between 14 and 18 inches. These bass must be immediately released back into the water. You must still adhere to the daily bag limit of five bass.
Now that you know what you need to know about fishing in Texas, you can visit this page to discover which of the Top 10 Best Bass Fishing Lakes in Texas you will plan your next fishing trip.
Keep on rippin’ y’all!
Texas Bass Angler
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