Requirements for Federal, State & Border Waters

Requirements for Federal Waters and State Tidal Waters

Recreational anglers must have a Texas fishing license and saltwater endorsement to:

  • Possess in state water any fish taken in federal waters
  • Possess fish on a vessel in the tidal waters of Texas (see Fishing in Federal Waters)
  • Possess fish on a vessel in the tidal waters of Texas

Requirements for Border Waters

All fish landed in Texas must comply with Texas bag and length limits. No exceptions.

Texas-Arkansas

In Arkansas waters of the Red River, requirements of that state apply.

Texas-Oklahoma

  • In Oklahoma waters of the Red River, requirements of that state apply.
  • A person may fish in Texas or Oklahoma waters on Lake Texoma only with the appropriate license from Texas or Oklahoma, unless the person possesses a Lake Texoma fishing license.
  • A person must have a valid Texas fishing license to fish from the Texas bank from Denison DamDenison Dam to Shawnee Creek map to Shawnee Creek (south of the line between border markers 1 and 2 on the map illustration). GPS coordinates are as follows: Marker 1(Lat 33.81892, Long -96.56806), Marker 2 (Lat 33.81986, Long -96.5556). An Oklahoma fishing license is required to wade-fish or fish from a boat in these waters.
  • An Oklahoma resident 65 years of age or older is exempt from fishing license requirements in Texas, including on Lake Texoma.
  • The upstream boundary of Lake Texoma is at Latitude 33°54.426’; Longitude -96°59.114’.

Texas-Louisiana

Residents of either state, who are properly licensed in their state (or are exempt because of age), or persons who hold valid non-resident fishing licenses issued by either state may fish in any portion of the lakes and rivers forming a common boundary between Louisiana and Texas inland from a line across Sabine Pass between Texas Point and Louisiana Point. Fish landed in Texas must adhere to the Texas bag and length limits.

Texas-Mexico

Border States Include Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila, Chihuahua

A recreational fishing license or Permiso de Pesca Deportiva [managed by the Mexican federal agency CONAPESCA (Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca)] is required to fish in Mexican waters. Recreational anglers can buy permits for a single day, week, month or year.