Exceptions to Freshwater Harvest Regulations
Valid Sep. 1, 2024 through Aug. 31, 2025.
Bait Fish Exceptions
In Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Jeff Davis, Hudspeth, Kinney, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Val Verde, Ward, and Winkler counties, the only fishes that may be used or possessed for bait while fishing are common carp, fathead minnows, gizzard and threadfin shad, golden shiners, goldfish, Mexican tetra, Rio Grande cichlid, silversides (Atherinidae family) and sunfish (Lepomis).
Exceptions to Statewide Harvest Regulations
Waters listed on this page are subject to special gear restrictions or special harvest limits on one or more species of fish. Waters with consumption advisories issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) are also listed here. Select a water body to see a summary of site-specific regulations.
On fresh waters not listed here, statewide limits apply.
A
B
- B. A. Steinhagen
- Bastrop
- Bellwood
- Belton (Bell County)
- Bob Sandlin
- Boerne City Park Lake
- Bois d'Arc Lake
- Braunig
- Brushy Creek Lake and Brushy Creek downstream from the lake to the Williamson/Milam County line
- Bryan
- Buck Lake
C
- Caddo
- Calaveras
- Canyon
- Canyon Lake Project #6
- Casa Blanca
- Choke Canyon Reservoir
- Clear Creek
- Clear Fork Trinity River
- Clear Lake
- Cleburne State Park
- Coffee Mill
- Community Fishing Lakes (see definition)
- Como
- Concho River North (North Concho River from O.C. Fisher dam to the Bell Street dam)
- Concho River South (South Concho River from Lone Wolf dam to Bell Street dam)
- Conroe
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
- Lady Bird Lake
- Lake O' the Pines
- Lavon
- Lewisville
- Livingston
- Lost Maples - Lower
- Lost Maples - Upper
M
- Madisonville
- Marine Creek (Ft. Worth)
- Meredith
- Mill Creek Lake
- Mineral Wells
- Monticello
- Moss
- Mountain Creek Lake (Dallas County)
- Murvaul
N
O
P
R
S
- Sabine River
- Sam Rayburn
- Sections of Rivers within State Parks
- Sheldon
- Southeast Texas (Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Jefferson, Liberty (south of U.S. Highway 90), Newton (excluding Toledo Bend Reservoir), and Orange counties including any public waters that form boundaries with adjacent counties.)
- State Parks (fishing from any dock, pier, jetty or manmade structure)
- Sulphur River