Texas
Fishing License 2026.

License required?

Yes

Where to apply?

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). Online, by phone, or at 1,700+ retail locations (Walmart, Academy, HEB, local tackle shops).

Cost

Resident freshwater: $30. Saltwater: $35. Combo (fresh + salt): $40. Non-resident: $58 freshwater, $63 saltwater, $68 combo. 1-day all-water: $11 resident / $16 non-res.

Validity

Annual (September 1 – August 31) or 1-day

Available online?

Yes

Texas offers some of the most diverse fishing in the US — Gulf Coast saltwater (tarpon, speckled trout, red drum), east-Texas pine-belt reservoirs for trophy largemouth (Lake Fork produces world-record contenders), and the Rio Grande border waters. Required for ages 17+. Under 17 and seniors 65+ (residents, with restrictions) are exempt.

Closed seasons

Flounder: closed Nov 1 – Dec 14 (annual spawning closure). Most species year-round open.

Catch limits

Largemouth bass: 5/day 14" min. Speckled trout: 3/day 15–20" slot + 1 over 20". Red drum: 3/day 20–28" slot. Tarpon: 1/day 85" min (trophy only).

Prohibited methods

Game fish by hand, with firearms, explosives, or electricity prohibited. Bowfishing legal for non-game species.

Catch & Release

Encouraged for tarpon, alligator gar, and oversize bass. Required for any fish outside legal slot.

Texas uses strict slot limits to protect breeding-size redfish and speckled trout. Alligator gar has special rules on Trinity River (1/day, tag required). Saltwater requires saltwater endorsement even on combo license.

Best season

April–June (bass pre-spawn/spawn), October–December (coastal flounder run + offshore), Year-round on coast

Freshwater

300+ major reservoirs across the state. East Texas has classic bass country; the Hill Country rivers (Guadalupe, Frio) hold Guadalupe bass (state fish).

Saltwater

367 miles of Gulf Coast. Inshore bays (Galveston, Matagorda, Aransas, Laguna Madre) for trout/red drum; offshore for billfish, tuna, snapper.

Equipment

Full selection in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin. Academy Sports + Bass Pro flagship stores. Local bait shops on every bay.

Fishing guides

$400–$800/day inshore (bay charters, 2 anglers). Offshore billfish: $1,500–$3,000/day (6–12 hour trips).

Transport

Fly into DFW, IAH (Houston), AUS, or SAT. Rental car mandatory outside Austin. Coastal access requires drive to Galveston (1h from Houston) or Corpus Christi (3h from Austin).

Safety

Summer heat 40°C+, heat advisories common. Hurricane season Jun–Nov. Alligators present in East Texas rivers — do not swim. Jellyfish in Gulf waters May–Sept.

License fees

$30–$68 annual depending on water + residency

Guide prices

$400–$800/day inshore; $1,500–$3,000 offshore

Daily budget

Budget: $120/day (license, bait, public access). Charter: $500–$2,000/day.