Freshwater Bag and Length Limits
Valid Sep. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021.
Statewide Regulations
- Statewide regulations apply to all public fresh waters except locations noted in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
- For freshwater fishes not listed, there are no statewide daily bag or length limits.
- For saltwater finfish species caught in the public fresh waters of this state, saltwater bag, possession and length limits apply.
Possession Limits
- Twice the statewide daily bag limit.
- In waterbodies where daily bag limits are larger than the statewide daily bag, the possession limits remain twice the statewide daily bag limits: lakes Caddo, Kirby, Livingston, Palestine, Toledo Bend and the Sabine River below Toledo Bend.
- Fish stored by a person at their residence do not apply to their possession limit.
- Definitions of daily bag and possession limit.
Largemouth bass
- Daily Bag:
- 5 fish for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass.
- Minimum Length:
- 14 inches
Smallmouth bass
- Daily Bag:
- 5 fish for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass.
- Minimum Length:
- 14 inches
Spotted, Guadalupe & Alabama bass
- Daily Bag:
- 5 fish for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass.
- Minimum Length:
- None
Illustration: Guadalupe bass
Striped & Hybrid Striped bass
- Daily Bag:
- 5 in any combination
- Minimum Length:
- 18 inches
- Possession Limit Exception:
- Lake Texoma
- Also Known As:
- Palmetto or Sunshine bass
White bass
- Daily Bag:
- 25
- Minimum Length:
- 10 inches
Yellow bass
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Minimum Length:
- None
Catfish: Channel, blue, their hybrids & subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 25 in any combination
- Minimum Length:
- 12 inches
Illustration: Channel catfish
Catfish: Flathead
- Daily Bag:
- 5
- Minimum Length:
- 18 inches
Crappie: White, black, their hybrids & subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 25 (in any combination)
- Minimum Length:
- 10 inches
Gar: Alligator
- Daily Bag:
- 1
- Minimum Length:
- None
- Possession Limit Exception:
- Falcon Reservoir
- Restrictions for Spawning Gar:
- Certain areas may be temporarily closed to fishing when optimum spawning conditions occur.
- 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 using the “My Texas Hunt Harvest” mobile app, or online in a web browser.
- Release Restrictions:
- Gar may not be released back into the water after being taken with lawful archery equipment.
Paddlefish
- No harvest allowed
Saugeye
- Daily Bag:
- 5 (only 2 can be less than 16 inches in length)
- Minimum Length:
- None
Shad: Gizzard & threadfin
- Daily Bag:
- No limit; however, a person who collects shad for personal use and transports those fish from a public water body in a container or containers that total 30 gallons or more in volume will be required to get a Permit to Possess or Sell Nongame Fish Taken from Public Fresh Water.
- Minimum Length:
- None
Illustration: Gizzard shad
Sunfish: various including bluegill, redear, green, warmouth & longear
- Daily Bag:
- No limit
- Minimum Length:
- None
Illustration: Bluegill
Trout: Rainbow & brown
- Daily Bag:
- 5 in any combination
- Minimum Length:
- None
Illustration: Rainbow trout
Walleye
- Daily Bag:
- 5 (only 2 can be less than 16 inches in length)
- Minimum Length:
- None
Exotic Aquatic Species
There are special requirements associated with the harvest of harmful or potentially harmful exotic species and transport of exotic aquatic species (tilapia, grass carp).