Fishing Licenses and Packages

Resident Requirements

A resident fishing license is required of any resident who fishes in the public waters of Texas.

Exceptions

A license/package is not required for the following residents:

• a person under 17 years of age.
• a person born before January 1, 1931.
• a person with an intellectual disability fishing as part
  of medically approved therapy, under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or employed by a hospital, residence, or school for persons with an intellectual disability. The person with an intellectual disability must carry an authorization identifying the entity supplying the service. This authorization may be in the form of an identification card that contains the name of the sponsoring entity; or
• a person with an intellectual disability fishing under the direct supervision of a licensed angler who is either a family member or has permission from the family to take the person fishing. While fishing, the person with an intellectual disability needs a note from a doctor stating the person has been diagnosed as having an intellectual disability.

Non-resident Requirements

A non-resident fishing license is required of all non-residents who fish in the public waters of Texas.

Exceptions

Licenses/Packages are not required for:

• non-residents under 17 years of age;
• Louisiana resident 65 years of age or older who possesses a valid Louisiana Recreational Fishing License (includes Senior Fish/Hunt License); or
• Oklahoma resident 65 years of age or older.

Requirements for Aquatic Species

A valid fishing license with a freshwater or saltwater endorsement is required of any resident who fishes or takes fish, mussels, clams, crayfish, or other aquatic life in the public waters of Texas.

A hunting license is required to take turtles and frogs.

Freshwater Packages

Includes a resident, senior resident, or non-resident fishing license valid from the date of sale to Aug. 31 of the same year and a freshwater endorsement. A saltwater endorsement may also be purchased.

Senior freshwater package is available to any Texas resident who is at least 65 years of age and was born on or after January 1, 1931.

Saltwater Packages

Includes a resident, senior resident, or non-resident fishing license valid from the date of sale to Aug. 31 of the same year and a saltwater endorsement with a red drum tag or spotted seatrout tag, or both, depending on the package selected. A freshwater endorsement may also be purchased.

Senior saltwater package is available to any Texas resident who is at least 65 years of age and was born on or after January 1, 1931.

All-Water Packages

All-water package licenses are valid from the date of sale to Aug. 31 of the same year.

Year from Purchase All-Water Fishing Package (Resident Only)

Fishing license, a freshwater endorsement and a saltwater endorsement with a red drum and spotted seatrout tag are all valid from the date of purchase through the end of the purchase month of the next license year.

Senior All-Water Package

Available to any Texas resident who is at least 65 years of age and was born on or after January 1, 1931. The packages include a senior resident fishing license, and either a freshwater endorsement, a saltwater endorsement with a red drum or spotted seatrout tag, or both depending on the package selected.

All-Water Licenses

Special Resident All-Water Fishing License

Available to any Texas resident who is legally blind. Endorsements are not required for this license. Includes one red drum tag and one spotted seatrout tag.

One-Day All-Water Fishing License (Resident and Non Resident)

Valid for the selected day or days purchased. Endorsements are not required for this license. Consecutive days may be bought at the time of purchase. One red drum tag (Item 598) and spotted seatrout tag (Item 596) is available at no additional charge (limit one per customer).

Fishing Guide Licenses

Fishing Guide Licenses are required for any person who for compensation, accompanies, assists or transports any person engaged in fishing in the waters of the state. For fees and details, see Commercial Licenses or download the Commercial Fishing Guide.

Lake Texoma License

With this license, valid until December 31 following the date of issuance, a person may fish in both the Texas and Oklahoma waters of Lake Texoma without any additional Texas or Oklahoma fishing licenses. A Texas resident 65 years of age or older does not need this license to fish in the Oklahoma portion of Lake Texoma. Lake Texoma license is valid only on Lake Texoma.

Sport Oyster Boat Licenses

Required when using a sport oyster dredge or tongs to harvest oysters recreationally. For this license only, residency is based on the boat's records. Available only at TPWD HQ or Law Enforcement offices.

The resident sport oyster boat license is for boats with a current registration in Texas, or having a current certificate of documentation from the U.S. Coast Guard that shows the owner's address is in Texas.

The non-resident sport oyster boat license is for boats with a current registration not in Texas or having a current certificate of documentation from the U.S. Coast Guard that shows the owner's address not in Texas.

Lifetime Fishing Licenses and Tags

Lifetime licenses and tags are available to Texas residents and are valid for the lifetime of the license holder.