ATHENS – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Toyota ShareLunker Program has selected fishing guide Brady Stanford of Millersville as the 2025 American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) Guide of the Year. The Toyota ShareLunker Program has partnered with AFTCO since 2025 to annually recognize a fishing guide who best contributes to conservation and the enhancement of largemouth bass fisheries in Texas.
AUSTIN- Commercial shrimp season for both Texas and federal waters in the Gulf will close 30 minutes after sunset May 15, reopening on a still-to-be determined date in July. The Texas closure applies to gulf waters from the coastline out to nine nautical miles. The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced that federal waters out to 200 nautical miles will also be closed to shrimping to conform to the Texas closure.
AUSTIN – Since its inception in 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) has collaborated with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to deliver nearly 100 fish habitat conservation projects in Texas public waterways.
AUSTIN —The private recreational angler red snapper season in federal waters will open May 22 rather than the typical June 1 opening. This change was made to provide a longer window for saltwater anglers to enjoy coastal fishing and include the Memorial Day holiday.
ATHENS – The 2026 Toyota ShareLunker collection season didn’t disappoint during its 40th Anniversary celebration with an incredible 18 Legacy Class ShareLunkers submitted from 10 different public lakes across the state of Texas.
ATHENS – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is pleased to announce the 2026 winners of the Texas division of the Wildlife Forever’s Fish Art Contest. The contest is housed and administered by TPWD’s Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens.
CORPUS CHRISTI – Grab your rod and reel and saltwater fishing bait and enjoy a day of coastal fishing at the newly renovated Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi.
ATHENS – In the final hours of the 2026 Toyota ShareLunker program collection season Tuesday evening (March 31), O.H. Ivie reservoir delivered a buzzer beater with its fifth Legacy Class largemouth bass of the season. The fish broke a tie with J.B. Thomas for the most Legacy Class ShareLunker entries in 2026 and clinched the top spot for O.H. Ivie in the waterbody standings for the sixth consecutive year.
AUSTIN – Con la llegada de la primavera en Texas también regresa la temporada de pesca de bagre en los lagos de Neighborhood Fishin’ del Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Texas (TPWD). El programa ofrece a amigos y familias la oportunidad de pescar bagre cerca de casa y participar en la tradición texana de la recreación al aire libre.
AUSTIN – Springtime is back in Texas which signals the return of catfish angling at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes across the state. The program gives friends and families the opportunity to reel in catfish close to home and participate in the Texas tradition of outdoor recreation.