Texas freshwater fishing is a great way to spend time with family and friends. If you’ve never been, here are some of the most popular fish in Texas.
The following are the permissible sizes and bag limits for game fish in Texas. These restrictions only apply to freshwater bodies in the state, with the exception of those noted otherwise.
This article will cover:
- List of Texas game fish bag and size limits
- How to measure a fish's length
- Frequently asked questions
You can find out how many of each species of fish is legal to catch at any given time by reading our helpful guide below.
Bass Aggregate Bag Limit
- Location – all public fresh waters except locations stated in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
- 5 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, and spotted bass species, unless stated otherwise
- Seasons – The species is open year-round unless otherwise indicated
Catfish Aggregate Bag Limit
- Location – all public fresh waters except locations stated in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
- 25 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of blue, channel and hybrid species, unless stated otherwise.
Crappie Aggregate Bag Limit
- 25 fish per harvester per day aggregate bag limit in any combination of black, white and hybrid species, unless stated otherwise.
Texas Game Fish List
Note: Texas does not place any bag or size restrictions on freshwater fish that are not listed below.
Alabama Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Guadalupe Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Hybrid Bass
- State Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- State Min Length: 18 inches
- Lake Texoma Bag Limit: 10, possession limit: 20
- Lake Texoma Min Length: none
- Lake Texoma Max Length: two may be 20 inches or greater daily
- Culling of striped bass and hybrid striped bass is prohibited.
Largemouth Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: 14 inches
Palmetto Bass
- State Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- State Min Length: 18 inches
- Lake Texoma Bag Limit: 10, possession limit: 20
- Lake Texoma Min Length: none
- Lake Texoma Max Length: two may be 20 inches or greater daily
- Culling of striped bass and hybrid striped bass is prohibited.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Spotted Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Striped Bass
Striped Bass
- State Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- State Min Length: 18 inches
- Lake Texoma Bag Limit: 10, possession limit: 20
- Lake Texoma Min Length: none
- Lake Texoma Max Length: two may be 20 inches or greater daily
- Culling of striped bass and hybrid striped bass is prohibited.
Sunshine Bass
- State Bag Limit: 5 (included in the bass aggregate bag limit)
- State Min Length: 18 inches
- Lake Texoma Bag Limit: 10, possession limit: 20
- Lake Texoma Min Length: none
- Lake Texoma Max Length: two may be 20 inches or greater daily
- Culling of striped bass and hybrid striped bass is prohibited.
White Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: 25
- Minimum Length: 10 inches
Yellow Bass
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Blue Catfish
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 (included in the catfish aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Channel Catfish
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 (included in the catfish aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Hybrid Catfish
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 (included in the catfish aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: None
Flathead Catfish
- Daily Bag Limit: 5
- Minimum Length: 18 inches
Black Crappie
Black Crappie
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 (included in the crappie aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: 10 inches
Hybrid Crappie
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 (included in the crappie aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: 10 inches
White Crappie
- Daily Bag Limit: 25 (included in the crappie aggregate bag limit)
- Minimum Length: 10 inches
Alligator Gar
- State Bag Limit: 1
- State Min Length: None
- State Mandatory Harvesting Reporting: Required - See Regulations Here
- Falcon Reservoir Limit: 5, possession limit: 10
- Falcon Reservoir Min Length: none
- Falcon Reservoir Max Length: two may be 20 inches or greater daily
- Falcon Reservoir Mandatory Harvesting Reporting: Not required
Paddlefish
- Harvest not allowed
Saugeye
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (including 2 that can be less than 16 inches in length)
- Minimum Length: None
Gizzard Shad
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Threadfin Shad
- Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Bluegill Sunfish
Bluegill Sunfish
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Green Sunfish
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Long Ear Sunfish
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Red Ear Sunfish
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Warmouth Sunfish
- Daily Bag Limit: None
- Minimum Length: None
Brown Trout
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 in combination with rainbow trout
- Minimum Length: None
Rainbow Trout
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 in combination with brown trout
- Minimum Length: None
Walleye
- Daily Bag Limit: 5 (including 2 that can be less than 16 inches in length)
- Minimum Length: None
How To Measure A Fish's Length?
Here is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWD) approved method of determining the legal length. It can be achieved in two ways.
For a soft-tailed:
- Place the fish on its side, with the jaw closed.
- Squeeze the tail fin together to get the longest total length possible.
- Determine the length of a straight line from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin.
For a hard-tailed:
- With the jaw closed, lay the fish on its side.
- Measure a straight line from the end of the snout to the very end of the tail fin.
Caution: A game warden from the State of Texas may issue a ticket to anybody who is caught with an oversize saltwater fish.
For more information on measuring fish, refer to the TPWD site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Catfish Size Limit For Texas?
There is a combined bag limit of 25 fish applied to blue, channel, and hybrid catfish without a size restriction. Flathead catfishing is limited to 5 fish in a 5-fish bag with an 18-inch minimum length limit.
What Is The Striped Bass Size Limit For Texas?
The Texas striped bass limit is a 10-fish daily bag and with a minimum size of 25 inches.
What Is The White Bass Size Limit For Texas?
The Texas white bass limit is a 10-fish daily bag and with a minimum size of 25 inches.
What Is The Largemouth Bass Size Limit For Texas?
The Texas largemouth bass limit is a 5-fish daily bag and with a minimum size of 14 inches.
What Is The Smallmouth Bass Size Limit For Texas?
The Texas smallmouth bass limit is a 5-fish daily bag and with a minimum size of 14 inches.
