Texas Fishing License: How to Get It, Its Charges, Rules, and Much More

Texas offers one of the best fishing sites in the US, owing to the diverse terrain features and abundant lakes, rivers, and coastlines. And it happens that you are on the Gulf Coast and want to fish in salt water or catch a freshwater one in a nearby lake.

However, a legal Texas fishing license is required to fish in the state. In this guide, we'll explain why it's important, where to get one, and how much it costs. What's more, we will also give you some tips on how you can have the best fishing experience with the appropriate preparation.

Why You Need a Texas Fishing License?

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) requires a Texas fishing license that contributes to the conservation of fish and water habitat in the state. No matter whether you reside in Texas or not, you should be licensed to fish in the public waters. It enables you to fish through legal ways, such as a rod and reel or bow.

You may also require a freshwater or saltwater endorsement, depending on the location that you fish, or just get a package that is all-water, which covers both. As much as fishing without a license in Texas may result in fines, there are exemptions for specific cases and individuals where one may fish without one. Here's more detail about both cases:

1. Fines and Penalties

Penalties are mostly less than $500. But failure to pay up the amount might turn into a misdemeanor. The more severe violations, such as not having a commercial license when required or fishing prohibited species, lead to greater fines of up to $25000. It is also possible to receive a jail sentence of up to 2 years and fines of $1,500-10,000.

2. Exemptions:

Some people in Texas don't need a fishing license. Kids under 17, as well as residents born before January 1, 1931, are exempt. Furthermore, people with intellectual disabilities can fish without a license if they're in a therapy program or fishing with a licensed family member (a doctor's note may be required).

You also don't need a license to fish from the shore or piers in Texas State Parks, on private property, or on Free Fishing Day (the first Saturday in June). Senior residents 65 and older can get a discounted license, and certain military members and disabled veterans may qualify for a free Super Combo license. 65+ non-residents of Louisiana with a valid Louisiana Recreational fishing license, and Oklahoma residents 65+ are also exempt.

Texas Fishing License Cost Breakdown

A fishing license in Texas may cost more or less to residents and non-residents. You can also select either of the different license options available, and any special discounts or packages you might qualify for. Here's a complete breakdown of licensing charges:

1. Resident vs. Non-Resident Pricing

To get a resident fishing license in Texas, you must have lived in the state for at least six months right before buying it. If you're not a resident, you'll pay more as non-resident licenses cost quite a bit more than resident ones.

2. Freshwater, Saltwater, and All-Water Packages

Texas offers many fishing license packages. However, freshwater, saltwater, and all-water are the primary ones.

• Freshwater Package: It costs $30 for residents, $12 for senior residents (65+), and $58 for non-residents. It includes a fishing license and a freshwater endorsement.
• Saltwater Package: It is $35 for residents, $17 for seniors, and $63 for non-residents. It includes a fishing license, a saltwater endorsement, and tags for Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout.
• All-Water Package: It encompasses both freshwater and saltwater fishing, all necessary endorsements and tags, and is $40 for residents, $22 for seniors, and $68 for non-residents. Residents who've gotten the Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package will have to pay $47. The package is valid from the purchase date until the end of the same month the following year.

3. Special Packages

TPWD also offers several special fishing license options for short and long terms, the disabled, and combo packages, such as:

• The Disabled Veteran Super Combo:

It's free for veterans (resident or non-resident) with a disability rating of 50% or more, or loss of use of a foot or leg, who are receiving VA disability benefits. However, proof from the VA is required.

This package includes both hunting and fishing licenses, freshwater and saltwater endorsements (with Red Drum tag), archery, upland game bird, and migratory bird endorsements. But it does not include the Federal Duck Stamp.

• The One-Day All-Water License:

It's a short-term package costing $11 for residents and $16 for non-residents, and $7 for legally blind residents. The license is valid only on the selected day and doesn't require extra endorsements. It also comes with one Red Drum tag and one Spotted Seatrout tag at no extra cost (limit one per person).

• The Lifetime Fishing License:

It's available to Texas residents for $1,000, allows fishing anywhere in Texas for life, and includes one trophy-sized Red Drum per year. You can also upgrade to a Lifetime combo license (hunting and fishing) for an added fee of $1800. However, the lifetime license is not available for non-residents, not even the senior ones.

• The Super Combo License:

It's a full package combining fishing and hunting privileges, with several endorsements. It's priced at $68 for residents and $32 for senior residents at a discounted price. This package is not for non-residents, not even senior ones. There are other combo packages as well for residents and senior residents.

Where and How to Buy a Texas Fishing License?

Texas fishing licenses may be bought online, in person via a retailer, by phone, or with a mobile app. Here's how:

1. Online

A Texas fishing license can be purchased in the simplest manner by going to the official site of TPWD:

• Just go to the site, find the “Licenses” or “Fishing” section.
• Select your form of license, such as a Freshwater, Saltwater, or All-Water Package.
• After this, log in with your details and pay the license fee.
• A $5 administration fee will also be charged. Once done, you can print your license or save it on your phone.

2. In-Person

TPWD also has approximately 1,700 approved online sellers throughout the state from which you can buy the license. These include sporting goods stores like Academy and Bass Pro Shops, as well as tackle shops, gun shops, hardware stores, some grocery stores, and marinas. You can find a nearby retailer by entering your city name in the search bar on the TPWD site.

3. By Phone

You can also buy a fishing license by phone. Just call (800) 895-4248, Monday to Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

4. Mobile App Options

The TPWD offers a mobile app called Texas Hunt & Fish, available on both iOS and Android. With this app, you can view your fishing or hunting license, report harvests, and use digital tags for certain species (like red drum and spotted seatrout).

You can also access fishing information. If you have a digital license, you must use the app to tag your catch. But keep in mind, if your license includes physical tags, you still need to fill out the paper tags. You can also use the Outdoor Annual app to show proof of license purchase.

It's the official mobile app from the TPWD, which gives access to hunting, fishing, and boating rules, even when you're offline. The app is the digital version of the printed Outdoor Annual booklet.

Tips Before You Go Fishing in Texas

Even after you get the license, you must also abide by certain rules, such as by species, catch, seasons, and accessible area restrictions. You'll also have to bring the proof of licensing with you:

1. Rules on Catch Limits and Species Regulations

Texas has specific rules for how many fish you can keep (bag limits) and how big they must be (length limits), depending on the fish species and where you're fishing. For example:

• Red Drum, with a size of 20 to 28 inches, has a limit of 3 per day.
• Whites that are 10 inches or less have a limit of 25 daily.
• The largemouth and smallmouth bass should be at least 14 inches, and the total daily limit is 5 black bass.
• The limit on blue and channel catfish is 25 fish, with no size limits. But only 5 fish can be greater than 20 inches, and only 1 more than 30 inches.
• The minimum size of Crappie is 10 inches, and the maximum limit is 25 in total.

There are separate rules for some species. Therefore, it is better to learn the latest regulations in the Outdoor Annual app that TPWD provides. Also, you can't clean or fillet your fish while still fishing or transporting by boat. Fish must stay whole until you reach land (not including piers or jetties). However, for some fish, such as swords and king mackerel, the head or tail may be removed, but the body must remain intact.

2. Fishing Seasons and Restricted Areas

In Texas, the fisherman can continue fishing all year long as there are no closed seasons for freshwater or saltwater fishing. However, fishing for other fish, such as Bluefin Tuna, may have temporary closures in case the amount of catches is met. Fishing is best during spawning periods such as spring and summer, especially for bass.

Some areas also have restrictions. Local regulations can prohibit fishing in the area around a highway bridge or where signs state “No Fishing.” The TPWD also preserves some areas, such as the state parks, wildlife areas, and coastal preserves, which cannot be accessed due to safety or environmental concerns.

There are also particular bait fish regulations in some counties. Also, the use of equipment such as traps or nets to catch fish necessitates permits, which are limited to specific locations. Besides, special fishing regulations apply to seagrass areas. Thus, it is necessary to visit local regulations.

3. Carrying Proof of License While Fishing

If you're 17 or older and fishing in public waters in Texas, you must carry a valid fishing license in either a physical copy, a photo on your phone, or in the “Outdoor Annual” app. If you bought a digital license, you can display it using the Texas Hunt & Fish app. For activities requiring tags, like hunting deer or turkey, you still need physical tags.

Smart Gear to Bring on Your Texas Fishing Trip

Next on your checklist should be some smart gear, crucial devices you must bring on your fishing trip. However, whatever you choose should follow the rules set by TPWD. Here are the crucial things to carry with you to your Texas fishing trip:

• Fishing Equipment:

A rod and a reel that will fit your fishing place. Spinning combos with medium action will be a good option. Also, select the correct fishing line that suits your environment, such as braid for saltwater. Use various hooks and lures, and in case of catch-and-release fishing, use barbless hooks.

Check local laws regarding the use of bait and eliminate dead ones. Besides, use bait from the same waters in which you are to fish, and transport a receipt when transporting bait. According to TPWD, in freshwater, you can't use more than 100 hooks in total at one time. Keep gear organized in a tackle box. Legal fishing methods include rod and reel, and cast nets (under 14 feet wide for non-game bait).

Juglines with up to five hooks in freshwater for catfish and other non-game fish are allowed as well.

• Safety Equipment and Clothing:

Adequate life jackets should be worn by all people in a boat that's less than 26 feet. Children below 13 years of age must also wear life jackets when on moving boats. For boats of more than 16 feet, a throwable flotation device is in demand. When you are in coastal waters, carry flares or distress signals as well.

Fuel tank boats or those equipped with an inboard engine also require a backfire flame arrestor and a fire extinguisher. In addition, it is great to have a first-aid kit, an emergency whistle, and a map. Also, wear protective garments and a hat, glasses, and waterproof shoes. Carry rain gear as a contingency, and bring a phone for safety. For navigation, use GPS to find your way, and fish finders or sonar to locate fish.

• Lights:

To be safe and also to attract fish during fishing at dawn, dusk, or any other time of the night, lighting is important. It requires boats to observe the rules of TPWD and the Coast Guard by installing red, green, and white navigation lights that are visible. A handheld spotlight can help spot buoys.

Green underwater or flood lights are used in order to attract fish, like bait. Headlamps or lighted hats should be used when doing hands-free jobs, and LED lantern/bivvy lights can be used to lighten your space. Also, confirm that the lighting sources are waterproof, with a good battery life and a sufficient amount of light output.

Stay Powered During Your Fishing Trip

Other than smart gear, use a form of energy, such as a portable power station like BLUETTI AC60, to charge devices during your fishing trip. It provides clean, quiet fuel fuel-efficient power, and therefore, is excellent on fishing trips. The unit is a weatherproof station made for recreational activities.

With an IP65 rating and sealed design, it will keep out splashes of water or dirt while you're fishing. Moreover, the AC60 delivers 600W of energy from a 403Wh battery, which is expandable to 2,015Wh with extra B80 packs. In lifting mode, it can even reach 1,200W, enough to charge fish finders, GPS, aerators, lights, phones, and cameras multiple times.

The unit also includes USB-C, USB-A, and car ports, and can be charged by solar panels, a wall outlet, a car, or a generator. Its smart battery takes 45 minutes to charge from 0-80% and 1 hour to charge fully. The BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 is another compact power station featuring a 1800W pure sine wave inverter (3,600W surge) and a 1024Wh capacity.

It can be recharged in six ways: by wall outlet, solar, car, generator, or combos like AC+Solar or AC+Adapter. The unit has 11 output ports and, as such, can be used to power/charge more than one device simultaneously. A Battery Management System (BMS) safeguards both units against such problems as overvoltage, overheating, and overcurrent. Through the BLUETTI smart app, you will be able to monitor battery performance and control voltage levels.

FAQs

What happens if you don't have a fishing license in Texas?

If you don't have a fishing license, you can get hit by a $25 to $10,000 penalty, or tossed in jail (up to 2 years).

Can I fish without a license in Texas?

Usually, one needs a fishing license in Texas. But if they're below 17, born prior to January 1, 1931, fishing in a state park or on Free Fishing Day (first Saturday in June), they're exempt.

What is the fine for fishing without a license in Texas?

The majority of Texas fines for unlicensed fishing are less than $500. However, they can be anywhere from $25 to $10,000, depending on the nature of the misdemeanor.

Can you carry your Texas fishing license on your phone?

Yes, you can show your license using the TPWD Outdoor Annual app or a photo of it, unless physical tags or stamps are required.

What bait is illegal for fishing in Texas?

You can't use game fish or parts of them as bait. It's also illegal to move live fish or bait in water from where it was caught. Imported shrimp are prohibited as well. Some counties have even special bait rules. So, always check with your local regulations.

The Bottom Line

Fishing in Texas just hits different, whether you're on the Gulf Coast or chilling at an inland lake. But before you get ahead of yourself, you'll need a valid Texas fishing license. It's not just the law, but also helps conserve fish and their habitats. You can snag a license whether you're a local, just visiting, a senior, or even a disabled vet. Get it online, pop into a retailer store, call it in, or just use the TPWD app. But don't just wing it and instead, show up prepared for fishing.

Nevertheless, being ready is just as important. Bring the right gear, follow local fishing rules, and keep your devices charged. And if you're worried about your phone dying while you're out there, check out the BLUETTI AC60 and EB3A. Solar-powered, super portable, and quiet as a ninja, they'll keep your GPS, lights, and all your fishing gadgets operating so you don't get stuck in the dark. They provide multiple AC/DC outlets for juicing up multiple devices at once, with smart monitoring through the BLUETTI app and Battery Management System (BMS) to prevent overheating and electrical shock.