TPWD News Releases

Angler Catches Same ShareLunker Fish Twice in Two Years

ATHENS – Nearly two years to the day after reeling in ShareLunker 641 from Lake Alan Henry, angler Ross Gomez caught a 14.78-pound bass only to discover it was the same fish.

TPWD Abrirá un área de Cosecha de Ostras en la Bahía de Matagorda

AUSTIN – El Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Texas (TPWD) abrirá el área de TX-18 en Matagorda Bay a la cosecha comercial y recreativa de ostras a partir de las 12:01 a.m. del martes 18 de febrero.

TPWD to Open Oyster Harvest Area in Matagorda Bay

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is opening TX-18 in Matagorda Bay to commercial and recreational oyster harvest beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Annual White Bass Run Looking Strong in East Texas

AUSTIN – Heavy fall rain will mean anglers in east Texas should enjoy prime white bass fishing this spring, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists predict, while results could be spottier in central and south Texas.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Causes Black Vulture Mortalities in New Braunfels Area

AUSTIN — Preliminary tests have confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in multiple black vultures recovered at Landa Park in New Braunfels.

Lady Bird Lake, J.B. Thomas Kick of February with Pair Off Legacy Class ShareLunkers

ATHENS – The Toyota ShareLunker program roared into February with two Legacy Class lunkers on back-to-back days. Lady Bird Lake returned to the Legacy class limelight for the first time in a decade on Wednesday afternoon followed by J.B. Thomas on Thursday afternoon with its first Legacy Class fish of 2025.

Texas Game Warden Field Notes

Texas Game Wardens Uncover Illegal White-Tailed Deer Smuggling Operation

AUSTIN – Texas Game Wardens have concluded an investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of two individuals involved in illegally moving captive white-tailed deer.

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Arrives in Austin, Benefits Texas State Parks

AUSTIN — The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is back in Austin March 22 at the historic Paramount Theatre.

Texas Game Wardens Arrest Outfitter, Guides for Illegal Exotic Hunts

PORT MANSFIELD – Texas Game Wardens arrested a local hunting outfitter and two others for illegally guiding nilgai hunts on private property. The suspects used airboats and thermal optics to take clients on hunts for the exotic animals, operating a sophisticated scheme and profiting from illegal activity.