Fishing Regulations for Sabine River
To combat the spread of invasive zebra mussels, the law requires draining of water from boats and onboard receptacles when leaving or approaching public fresh waters.
- Black bass
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Upstream of Toledo Bend/LA state line
For largemouth and smallmouth bass, minimum length limit = 14 inches. No minimum length limit for Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass. Daily bag limit for all black bass species is 5 in any combination.
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Toledo Bend Dam to Sabine Pass
For largemouth bass, minimum length limit = 12 inches. Daily bag for all black bass species is 8 bass in any combination. Possession limit = 10.
- Carp
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There is no minimum length limit or daily bag limit for common carp.
- Catfish
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Upstream of Toledo Bend/LA state line
For channel and blue catfish, their hybrids and subspecies, 25 (in any combination - only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length). For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.
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Toledo Bend Dam to I.H. 10 bridge
For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag and possession limit = 50 in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 30 inches or greater in length.
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Toledo Bend Dam to I.H. 10 bridge
For flathead catfish, minimum length limit = 18 inches; daily bag and possession limit = 10.
- Crappie
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Upstream of Toledo Bend/LA state line
For white and black crappie, their hybrids and subspecies, minimum length limit = 10 inches. Daily bag limit = 25 in any combination.
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Toledo Bend Dam to I.H. 10 bridge
For black and white crappie there is no MLL and daily bag = 25 crappie in combination.
- Gar
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For alligator gar, daily bag limit is 1 fish of any size. No bag limits on other species of gar.
Mandatory Harvest Reporting - All alligator gar harvested from the public waters of the state other than Falcon International Reservoir must be reported within 24 hours to the department via mobile app or online. Report your harvest with "Texas Hunt & Fish" app.
Certain areas may be temporarily closed to alligator gar fishing when optimum spawning conditions occur. Get details.
- Sunfish
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There is no minimum length or daily bag limit on bluegill, redear, warmouth or other species of sunfish.
- Trout
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For rainbow and brown trout, their hybrids and subspecies, there is no minimum length and daily bag limit = 5 trout in any combination.
- White bass
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Toledo Bend Dam to I.H. 10 bridge
For white bass, no MLL and daily bag = 25.
- Striped bass and their Hybrids
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Toledo Bend Dam to I.H. 10 bridge
For striped bass, no MLL, daily bag = 5, and only 2 striped bass, 30 inches or greater, may be retained each day.