REGULATIONS SUMMARY Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual 2017-2018 31
FISHING REGULATIONS
SHAD TRAWL: For use in FRESH WATER only. A bag-shaped net which is dragged along the bottom or
through the water to catch aquatic life.
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fi sh and other aquatic animal life (including crayfi sh and shrimp).
• May not be longer than 6 feet or with a mouth larger than 36 inches in diameter.
• May be equipped with a funnel or throat and must be towed by boat or hand.
SPEAR: Any shaft with single or multiple points, barbed or barbless, which may be propelled by any means,
but does not include arrows. May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only.
SPEAR GUN: Any hand operated device designed and used for propelling a spear, but does not include the
crossbow. May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only, not a legal means to take fi sh in a community fi shing lake.
THROWLINE: For use in FRESH WATER only. A fi shing line with fi ve or less hooks and with one end attached
to a permanent fi xture. Components of a throwline may also include swivels, snaps, rubber, and rigid
support structures.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh, channel catfi sh, blue catfi sh, and fl athead catfi sh only.
• Must be used with a valid gear tag attached. Gear tag is valid for 10 days after the date set out.
• Placement and Location Restrictions: Throwlines may not be used in:
- 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 Naconiche in Nacogdoches County
- Lake Pfl ugerville in Travis 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
TRAWL (INDIVIDUAL BAIT-SHRIMP TRAWL): For use in SALT WATER only. A bag-shaped net which is dragged
along the bottom or through the water to catch aquatic life. Restricted to hand-operated trawls only; use of
mechanical devices is UNLAWFUL.
• See pg. 42 under Shrimp Regulations for trawl design restrictions.
• Nongame fi sh (EXCEPT those species regulated by bag or size limits) taken incidental to legal shrimping
operations may be retained.
• “Legal shrimping operations” means the use of a legal trawl in places, at times, and in manners as
authorized by TPWD (see section on Shrimp for details).
• 200 nongame fi sh taken with an individual bait-shrimp trawl may be retained per person for BAIT
PURPOSES ONLY.
TROTLINE: A non-metallic main fi shing line with more than fi ve hooks attached and with each end attached
to a fi xture.
• Nongame fi sh, channel catfi sh, blue catfi sh, and fl athead catfi sh may be taken by trotline.
• Red drum, spotted seatrout, and sharks caught on a trotline may not be retained or possessed.
• General Construction and Design Restrictions: Trotlines may not be used with:
- a mainline length exceeding 600 feet;
- hooks spaced less than 3 horizontal feet apart;
- metallic stakes;
- or the main fi shing line and attached hooks and stagings placed above the water’s surface.
TROTLINES IN FRESH WATER
• Tag Requirements: Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG (see pg. 28). Properly-marked buoys or fl oats
qualify as valid gear tags. Gear tags must be attached within 3 feet of the fi rst hook at each end of the
trotline and are valid for 10 days after the date set out.
• Construction and Design Restrictions: May not have more than 50 hooks on any one trotline.
• Placement and Location Restrictions: Trotlines may not be used in:
- 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
- Fayette County Reservoir in Fayette County
289
FISHING REGULATIONS
SHAD TRAWL: For use in FRESH WATER only. A bag-shaped net which is dragged along the bottom or
through the water to catch aquatic life.
• Legal only for taking NONGAME fi sh and other aquatic animal life (including crayfi sh and shrimp).
• May not be longer than 6 feet or with a mouth larger than 36 inches in diameter.
• May be equipped with a funnel or throat and must be towed by boat or hand.
SPEAR: Any shaft with single or multiple points, barbed or barbless, which may be propelled by any means,
but does not include arrows. May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only.
SPEAR GUN: Any hand operated device designed and used for propelling a spear, but does not include the
crossbow. May be used to take NONGAME fi sh only, not a legal means to take fi sh in a community fi shing lake.
THROWLINE: For use in FRESH WATER only. A fi shing line with fi ve or less hooks and with one end attached
to a permanent fi xture. Components of a throwline may also include swivels, snaps, rubber, and rigid
support structures.
• May be used to take NONGAME fi sh, channel catfi sh, blue catfi sh, and fl athead catfi sh only.
• Must be used with a valid gear tag attached. Gear tag is valid for 10 days after the date set out.
• Placement and Location Restrictions: Throwlines may not be used in:
- 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 Naconiche in Nacogdoches County
- Lake Pfl ugerville in Travis 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
TRAWL (INDIVIDUAL BAIT-SHRIMP TRAWL): For use in SALT WATER only. A bag-shaped net which is dragged
along the bottom or through the water to catch aquatic life. Restricted to hand-operated trawls only; use of
mechanical devices is UNLAWFUL.
• See pg. 42 under Shrimp Regulations for trawl design restrictions.
• Nongame fi sh (EXCEPT those species regulated by bag or size limits) taken incidental to legal shrimping
operations may be retained.
• “Legal shrimping operations” means the use of a legal trawl in places, at times, and in manners as
authorized by TPWD (see section on Shrimp for details).
• 200 nongame fi sh taken with an individual bait-shrimp trawl may be retained per person for BAIT
PURPOSES ONLY.
TROTLINE: A non-metallic main fi shing line with more than fi ve hooks attached and with each end attached
to a fi xture.
• Nongame fi sh, channel catfi sh, blue catfi sh, and fl athead catfi sh may be taken by trotline.
• Red drum, spotted seatrout, and sharks caught on a trotline may not be retained or possessed.
• General Construction and Design Restrictions: Trotlines may not be used with:
- a mainline length exceeding 600 feet;
- hooks spaced less than 3 horizontal feet apart;
- metallic stakes;
- or the main fi shing line and attached hooks and stagings placed above the water’s surface.
TROTLINES IN FRESH WATER
• Tag Requirements: Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG (see pg. 28). Properly-marked buoys or fl oats
qualify as valid gear tags. Gear tags must be attached within 3 feet of the fi rst hook at each end of the
trotline and are valid for 10 days after the date set out.
• Construction and Design Restrictions: May not have more than 50 hooks on any one trotline.
• Placement and Location Restrictions: Trotlines may not be used in:
- 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
- Fayette County Reservoir in Fayette County
289