REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 29
FISHING REGULATIONS
Legal Freshwater and Saltwater Devices and Restrictions for Fish
ONLY DEVICES AND RESTRICTIONS LISTED MAY BE USED TO TAKE OR ATTEMPT TO TAKE AQUATIC LIFE.
GAME FISH may be taken only by pole and line (which includes rod and reel), except as otherwise provided in
this guide.
A person may fi sh with multiple poles or other devices, except as provided in this guide. In fresh water, it is
unlawful to fi sh with more than 100 hooks on all devices combined.
In fresh water, it is unlawful to take fi sh with a hand operated device held underwater except that a spear or spear gun may
be used to take NONGAME fi sh.
CAST NET: A net that can be hand-thrown over an area.
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fi sh and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfi sh, and shrimp).
• May not be greater than 14 feet in diameter.
• In SALT WATER, nongame fi sh may be taken for bait purposes only.
DIP NET: A mesh bag suspended from a frame attached to a handle.
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fi sh and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfi sh, and shrimp).
• May be used to aid in the landing of fi sh caught by other legal devices.
• In SALT WATER, nongame fi sh may be taken for bait purposes only.
GAFF: Any hand-held pole with a hook attached directly to the pole.
• May only be used to aid in the landing of fi sh caught by other legal devices, means, or methods.
• Fish landed with a gaff MAY NOT be below the minimum, above the maximum, or within a protected
length limit.
GIG: Any hand-held shaft with single or multiple points, barbed or barbless.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only.
HANDFISHING: Fishing by the use of HANDS ONLY. The use of ANY other fi shing device while handfi shing
(including but not limited to gaff, pole hook, trap, spear or stick) is UNLAWFUL.
• No person may intentionally place a trap (including such devices as boxes, barrels or pipes) in public fresh
water for the purpose of taking catfi sh by handfi shing.
• May be used to take channel, blue, and fl athead catfi sh in fresh water only.
JUGLINE: For use in FRESH WATER only. A fi shing line with fi ve or less hooks tied to a free-fl oating device.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh, channel catfi sh, blue catfi sh, and fl athead catfi sh only.
• Placement and Location Restrictions: Juglines may not be used in
• Tagging and Marking Requirements:
- Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG (see pg. 28) attached within 6 inches of the free-fl oating device; gear
tag is valid for 10 days after the date set out and must include the number of the permit to sell nongame
fi sh taken from fresh water, if applicable. Properly-marked buoys or fl oats qualify as valid gear tags.
- For non-commercial purposes, a jugline must be marked with a free-fl oating device of any color other
than orange.
- For commercial purposes, a jugline must be marked with an orange, free-fl oating device.
LAWFUL ARCHERY EQUIPMENT: Includes longbow, recurved bow, compound bow, and crossbow.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only.
• Any fi sh that is edible or can be used for bait (includes all gar species, common carp, and buffalo) may
not be released back into the water after being taken with lawful archery equipment. See also “Waste of
Fish” on pg. 25.
• State regulations permit bow fi shing in most public waters (Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest
Regulations, see pgs. 33-37, and Restricted Areas in Counties, see pg. 70). Additionally, bow fi shers are
advised to check with local authorities that may have ordinances restricting use of archery equipment.
• A person bow fi shing on a navigable stream in Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kenedy, Llano, Maverick, Real,
Uvalde, or Zavala counties may not possess an arrow equipped with fl etching of any kind, an unbarbed
arrow, or a bow that is not equipped with a reel and line.
- Community Fishing Lakes (see pg. 28 for defi nition)
- Reservoirs or sections of rivers lying totally within
the boundaries of a state park
- Bellwood Lake in Smith County
- Boerne City Lake in Kendall County
- Canyon Lake Project #6 in Lubbock County
- Dixieland Reservoir in Cameron County
- Gibbons Creek Reservoir in Grimes County
- Lake Bastrop in Bastrop County
- Lake Bryan in Brazos County
- Lakes Coffee Mill and Davy Crockett in Fannin County
- Lake Pfl ugerville in Travis County
- Lake Naconiche in Nacogdoches County
- North Concho River from O.C. Fisher dam to the
Bell Street dam
- South Concho River from Lone Wolf dam to
Bell Street dam
- Tankersley Reservoir in Titus County
- Wheeler Branch Reservoir in Somervell County
287
FISHING REGULATIONS
Legal Freshwater and Saltwater Devices and Restrictions for Fish
ONLY DEVICES AND RESTRICTIONS LISTED MAY BE USED TO TAKE OR ATTEMPT TO TAKE AQUATIC LIFE.
GAME FISH may be taken only by pole and line (which includes rod and reel), except as otherwise provided in
this guide.
A person may fi sh with multiple poles or other devices, except as provided in this guide. In fresh water, it is
unlawful to fi sh with more than 100 hooks on all devices combined.
In fresh water, it is unlawful to take fi sh with a hand operated device held underwater except that a spear or spear gun may
be used to take NONGAME fi sh.
CAST NET: A net that can be hand-thrown over an area.
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fi sh and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfi sh, and shrimp).
• May not be greater than 14 feet in diameter.
• In SALT WATER, nongame fi sh may be taken for bait purposes only.
DIP NET: A mesh bag suspended from a frame attached to a handle.
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fi sh and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfi sh, and shrimp).
• May be used to aid in the landing of fi sh caught by other legal devices.
• In SALT WATER, nongame fi sh may be taken for bait purposes only.
GAFF: Any hand-held pole with a hook attached directly to the pole.
• May only be used to aid in the landing of fi sh caught by other legal devices, means, or methods.
• Fish landed with a gaff MAY NOT be below the minimum, above the maximum, or within a protected
length limit.
GIG: Any hand-held shaft with single or multiple points, barbed or barbless.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only.
HANDFISHING: Fishing by the use of HANDS ONLY. The use of ANY other fi shing device while handfi shing
(including but not limited to gaff, pole hook, trap, spear or stick) is UNLAWFUL.
• No person may intentionally place a trap (including such devices as boxes, barrels or pipes) in public fresh
water for the purpose of taking catfi sh by handfi shing.
• May be used to take channel, blue, and fl athead catfi sh in fresh water only.
JUGLINE: For use in FRESH WATER only. A fi shing line with fi ve or less hooks tied to a free-fl oating device.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh, channel catfi sh, blue catfi sh, and fl athead catfi sh only.
• Placement and Location Restrictions: Juglines may not be used in
• Tagging and Marking Requirements:
- Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG (see pg. 28) attached within 6 inches of the free-fl oating device; gear
tag is valid for 10 days after the date set out and must include the number of the permit to sell nongame
fi sh taken from fresh water, if applicable. Properly-marked buoys or fl oats qualify as valid gear tags.
- For non-commercial purposes, a jugline must be marked with a free-fl oating device of any color other
than orange.
- For commercial purposes, a jugline must be marked with an orange, free-fl oating device.
LAWFUL ARCHERY EQUIPMENT: Includes longbow, recurved bow, compound bow, and crossbow.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only.
• Any fi sh that is edible or can be used for bait (includes all gar species, common carp, and buffalo) may
not be released back into the water after being taken with lawful archery equipment. See also “Waste of
Fish” on pg. 25.
• State regulations permit bow fi shing in most public waters (Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest
Regulations, see pgs. 33-37, and Restricted Areas in Counties, see pg. 70). Additionally, bow fi shers are
advised to check with local authorities that may have ordinances restricting use of archery equipment.
• A person bow fi shing on a navigable stream in Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kenedy, Llano, Maverick, Real,
Uvalde, or Zavala counties may not possess an arrow equipped with fl etching of any kind, an unbarbed
arrow, or a bow that is not equipped with a reel and line.
- Community Fishing Lakes (see pg. 28 for defi nition)
- Reservoirs or sections of rivers lying totally within
the boundaries of a state park
- Bellwood Lake in Smith County
- Boerne City Lake in Kendall County
- Canyon Lake Project #6 in Lubbock County
- Dixieland Reservoir in Cameron County
- Gibbons Creek Reservoir in Grimes County
- Lake Bastrop in Bastrop County
- Lake Bryan in Brazos County
- Lakes Coffee Mill and Davy Crockett in Fannin County
- Lake Pfl ugerville in Travis County
- Lake Naconiche in Nacogdoches County
- North Concho River from O.C. Fisher dam to the
Bell Street dam
- South Concho River from Lone Wolf dam to
Bell Street dam
- Tankersley Reservoir in Titus County
- Wheeler Branch Reservoir in Somervell County
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