Freshwater Bag and Length Limits
Valid Sep. 1, 2023 through Aug. 31, 2024.
Harvest 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.
- It is a violation to leave unattended for any period of time or anchor a barge, boat, or fishing platform in the Trinity River below Livingston Dam in an area 1,000 feet from the dam to a point 1,500 feet downstream from the dam for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period without moving 100 feet or more during that time, or for five or more consecutive days, whether or not it has been moved.
- For saltwater finfish species caught in the brackish or fresh waters of this state, saltwater bag, possession and length limits apply.
Possession Limits
- Possession limits are twice the statewide daily bag limits except for striped bass from Lake Texoma and alligator gar from Falcon International Reservoir.
- For locations that have larger daily bag limits for some species (Caddo Reservoir, Lake Livingston, the Sabine River below Toledo Bend Reservoir, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and Toledo Bend Reservoir), possession limits remain twice the statewide daily bag limits.
- 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
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
Smallmouth bass
- Daily Bag:
- 5 fish for any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass.
- Minimum Length:
- 14 inches
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
See bass comparison and identification.
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
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
See bass comparison and identification.
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
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
See bass comparison and identification.
See bass comparison and identification.
Catfish: Channel, blue, their hybrids & subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 25 (in any combination - only 10 can be 20 inches or greater in length)
- Minimum Length:
- No Limit
Illustration: Channel catfish
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
Catfish: Flathead
- Daily Bag:
- 5
- Minimum Length:
- 18 inches
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
Crappie: White, black, their hybrids & subspecies
- Daily Bag:
- 25 (in any combination)
- Minimum Length:
- 10 inches
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
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.
See Alligator Gar Special Restrictions »
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
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
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
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
Special regulations may apply to certain waterbodies. See Exceptions to Statewide Limits.
Illustration: Rainbow trout
For fishes not listed above, there are no statewide bag or length limits. However, there are special requirements associated with the harvest of harmful or potentially harmful exotic fishes (tilapia, grass carp).