REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 25
FISHING REGULATIONS
Fishing Restrictions for Spawning Alligator Gar
When conditions such as water temperature and fl ooding events would be conducive for spawning of alligator gar, the
TPWD Executive Director may temporarily prohibit taking or attempting to take alligator gar in a specifi ed area for a
period not to exceed 30 days. Conditions that would be used to invoke this action include water temperatures between 68
to 82°F and occurrence of moderate fl ood levels as defi ned and reported by U.S. Geological Survey gauges (see www.srh.
noaa.gov/wgrfc). Notice of this action will be posted on the TPWD website, distributed to print and broadcast media, and
shared through social media. The notice will specify the area to be closed and when lawful fi shing for alligator gar may
resume. For current closure notices, visit tpwd.texas.gov/gar-closure
Fishing in Texas State Parks
A fi shing license and endorsement are not required if fi shing on State Park property or in waters completely enclosed by
a State Park.
On man-made structures (docks, piers, jetties, etc.) within state parks, fi shing is by pole-and-line only, with each
person limited to two poles. All other fi shing regulations, such as length and bag limits, remain in effect.
Anchoring Boats and Vessels
It is a violation to:
• Leave unattended for any period of time or anchor a barge, boat, or fi shing 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 fi ve or more consecutive days, whether or not it has been moved;
• Anchor or moor a vessel, barge, or structure for a period exceeding two consecutive days within the area
in Cedar Bayou between a department sign erected where Mesquite Bay fl ows into Cedar Bayou and the
department sign erected near the point where the pass empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
Tagging Fish – It is unlawful to release into the public waters of this state a fi sh with a device or substance implanted or
attached that is designed, constructed, or adapted to produce an audible, visual, or electronic signal used to monitor,
track, follow, or in any manner aid in the location of the released fi sh. It is legal to place an identifi cation tag on the
exterior of a fi sh and release this fi sh back into public waters. Caution is advised as use of these tags can damage fi sh.
Waste of Fish – It is unlawful to leave edible fi sh or bait fi sh taken from the public waters of the state to die without the
intent to retain the fi sh for consumption or bait.
Possession of Fish taken from Public Water
• Any fi sh caught must be taken by legal means and methods. Fish caught and immediately released are not
considered to be in your possession. Any fi sh not immediately released that are retained by using any type of
holding device such as stringer, cooler, livewell, or bucket are considered in your possession and must adhere to
established protected length and bag limits. While fi shing, it is illegal to be in possession of more fi sh than the daily
bag limit or fi sh that are within a protected length limit.
• In order to verify length and species, a fi sh caught may not have the head or tail removed and may not be fi lleted
until an angler fi nally lands the catch on the mainland, a peninsula, or barrier island not including jetties or piers and
does not transport the catch by boat. For broadbill swordfi sh and king mackerel, the head OR tail may be removed
but the remainder of the carcass must remain intact and may not be fi lleted. For sharks, ONLY the head may be
removed. The remainder of the carcass (including the tail) must remain intact and may not be fi lleted.
• Any fi sh taken from public water and landed by boat or person in Texas must adhere to the protected length limits
and daily bag and possession limits established for those fi sh in Texas regardless of the state or country in which
they were caught.
• The bag limit for a guided fi shing party is equal to the total number of persons in the boat licensed to fi sh or
otherwise exempt from holding a license minus each fi shing guide and fi shing guide deckhand multiplied by the bag
limit for each species harvested.
• It is unlawful to transport live, nongame fi shes taken from the Red River below Lake Texoma downstream to the
Arkansas border, Big Cypress Bayou downstream of Ferrell’s Bridge Dam on Lake O’ the Pines (including the
Texas waters of Caddo Lake), or the Sulphur River downstream of the Lake Wright Patman dam. Nongame fi shes
collected from the above waters may be used as live bait on these water bodies only.
Special Area Designations and Restrictions
• It is a violation to move, remove, deface, alter, or destroy any sign, depth marker, or other informational signage placed
by the department within, or to delineate boundaries of the Redfi sh Bay State Scientifi c Area.
• Rio Grande: Portions of the Rio Grande adjacent to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area are designated as a
“Wild and Scenic River.” Special federal rules apply to fi shing, boating, and other uses in these areas. For more
information concerning these rules and boundaries, call the Big Bend National Park at (432) 477-2251 (menu 3,
option 3).
283
FISHING REGULATIONS
Fishing Restrictions for Spawning Alligator Gar
When conditions such as water temperature and fl ooding events would be conducive for spawning of alligator gar, the
TPWD Executive Director may temporarily prohibit taking or attempting to take alligator gar in a specifi ed area for a
period not to exceed 30 days. Conditions that would be used to invoke this action include water temperatures between 68
to 82°F and occurrence of moderate fl ood levels as defi ned and reported by U.S. Geological Survey gauges (see www.srh.
noaa.gov/wgrfc). Notice of this action will be posted on the TPWD website, distributed to print and broadcast media, and
shared through social media. The notice will specify the area to be closed and when lawful fi shing for alligator gar may
resume. For current closure notices, visit tpwd.texas.gov/gar-closure
Fishing in Texas State Parks
A fi shing license and endorsement are not required if fi shing on State Park property or in waters completely enclosed by
a State Park.
On man-made structures (docks, piers, jetties, etc.) within state parks, fi shing is by pole-and-line only, with each
person limited to two poles. All other fi shing regulations, such as length and bag limits, remain in effect.
Anchoring Boats and Vessels
It is a violation to:
• Leave unattended for any period of time or anchor a barge, boat, or fi shing 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 fi ve or more consecutive days, whether or not it has been moved;
• Anchor or moor a vessel, barge, or structure for a period exceeding two consecutive days within the area
in Cedar Bayou between a department sign erected where Mesquite Bay fl ows into Cedar Bayou and the
department sign erected near the point where the pass empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
Tagging Fish – It is unlawful to release into the public waters of this state a fi sh with a device or substance implanted or
attached that is designed, constructed, or adapted to produce an audible, visual, or electronic signal used to monitor,
track, follow, or in any manner aid in the location of the released fi sh. It is legal to place an identifi cation tag on the
exterior of a fi sh and release this fi sh back into public waters. Caution is advised as use of these tags can damage fi sh.
Waste of Fish – It is unlawful to leave edible fi sh or bait fi sh taken from the public waters of the state to die without the
intent to retain the fi sh for consumption or bait.
Possession of Fish taken from Public Water
• Any fi sh caught must be taken by legal means and methods. Fish caught and immediately released are not
considered to be in your possession. Any fi sh not immediately released that are retained by using any type of
holding device such as stringer, cooler, livewell, or bucket are considered in your possession and must adhere to
established protected length and bag limits. While fi shing, it is illegal to be in possession of more fi sh than the daily
bag limit or fi sh that are within a protected length limit.
• In order to verify length and species, a fi sh caught may not have the head or tail removed and may not be fi lleted
until an angler fi nally lands the catch on the mainland, a peninsula, or barrier island not including jetties or piers and
does not transport the catch by boat. For broadbill swordfi sh and king mackerel, the head OR tail may be removed
but the remainder of the carcass must remain intact and may not be fi lleted. For sharks, ONLY the head may be
removed. The remainder of the carcass (including the tail) must remain intact and may not be fi lleted.
• Any fi sh taken from public water and landed by boat or person in Texas must adhere to the protected length limits
and daily bag and possession limits established for those fi sh in Texas regardless of the state or country in which
they were caught.
• The bag limit for a guided fi shing party is equal to the total number of persons in the boat licensed to fi sh or
otherwise exempt from holding a license minus each fi shing guide and fi shing guide deckhand multiplied by the bag
limit for each species harvested.
• It is unlawful to transport live, nongame fi shes taken from the Red River below Lake Texoma downstream to the
Arkansas border, Big Cypress Bayou downstream of Ferrell’s Bridge Dam on Lake O’ the Pines (including the
Texas waters of Caddo Lake), or the Sulphur River downstream of the Lake Wright Patman dam. Nongame fi shes
collected from the above waters may be used as live bait on these water bodies only.
Special Area Designations and Restrictions
• It is a violation to move, remove, deface, alter, or destroy any sign, depth marker, or other informational signage placed
by the department within, or to delineate boundaries of the Redfi sh Bay State Scientifi c Area.
• Rio Grande: Portions of the Rio Grande adjacent to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area are designated as a
“Wild and Scenic River.” Special federal rules apply to fi shing, boating, and other uses in these areas. For more
information concerning these rules and boundaries, call the Big Bend National Park at (432) 477-2251 (menu 3,
option 3).
283