Game Fish
Game fish may be taken only by pole and line (which includes rod and reel), except as otherwise provided below.
A person may fish with multiple poles or other devices, except as provided in this guide. In fresh water, it is unlawful to fish
with more than 100 hooks on all devices combined
In fresh water, it is unlawful to take fish with a hand operated device held underwater except that a spear or spear gun may be
used to take NONGAME fish.
Pole and Line
A line with hook, attached to a pole. Includes rod and reel.
- May be used to take GAME AND NONGAME fish.
- It is unlawful to use a pole and line to take or attempt to take fish by foul-hooking, snagging, or jerking. A fish is
foul-hooked when caught by a hook in an area other than the fish's mouth.
- Game and nongame fish may be taken by pole and line, except in a designated section of the Guadalupe River in Comal County.
- Pole and line is the only lawful method for taking game fish and nongame fish from Community Fishing Lakes (see definition,
pg. 28); includes impoundments lying totally within the boundaries of a state park), sections of rivers lying totally within
boundaries of a state park, the North Concho River from O.C. Fisher dam to the Bell Street dam , the South Concho River from
Lone Wolf dam to Bell Street dam, Wheeler Branch Reservoir, Lake Pflugerville, and Canyon Lake Project #6
Cast Net
A net that can be hand-thrown over an area.
- Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfish, and shrimp).
- May not be greater than 14 feet in diameter.
Dip Net
A mesh bag suspended from a frame attached to a handle.
- Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfish, and shrimp).
- May be used to aid in the landing of fish caught by other legal devices.
Gaff
Any hand-held pole with a hook attached directly to the pole.
- May only be used to aid in the landing of fish 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 fish only.
Handfishing
Fishing by the use of HANDS ONLY. The use of ANY other fishing device while handfishing (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 catfish by handfishing.
- May be used to take channel, blue, and flathead catfish in fresh water only.
Jugline
For use in FRESH WATER only. A fishing line with five or less hooks tied to a free-floating device.
- May be used to take NONGAME fish, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish only.
- Tagging and Marking Requirements:
- Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG (see "Definitions" dropdown in "General Fishing Rules for Fresh
Waters") attached within 6 inches of the free-floating device; gear tag is valid for 10 days after the date set
out and must include the number of the permit to sell nongame fish taken from fresh water, if applicable.
Properly-marked buoys or floats qualify as valid gear tags.
- For non-commercial purposes, a jugline must be marked with a free-floating device of any color other than
orange.
- For commercial purposes, a jugline must be marked with an orange, free-floating device.
Lawful Archery Equipment
Includes longbow, recurved bow, compound bow, and crossbow.
- May be used to take NONGAME fish only.
- Any fish 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.
- State regulations permit bow fishing in most public waters. Additionally, bow fishers are advised to check with local
authorities that may have ordinances restricting use of archery equipment.
- A person bow fishing on a navigable stream in Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kenedy, Llano, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, or Zavala
counties may not possess an arrow equipped with fletching of any kind, an unbarbed arrow, or a bow that is not equipped with a
reel and line.
Minnow Trap
- Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and other aquatic animal life (including crayfish and shrimp).
- Trap may not exceed 24 inches in length. The throat may not exceed 1 inch by 3 inches.
- GEAR TAG (see "Definitions" dropdown in "General Fishing Rules for Fresh Waters") valid for only 10
days must be visibly attached.
Seine
A section of non-metallic mesh webbing, with the top edge buoyed upwards by a floatline and the bottom edge weighted. Includes a
push net.
- Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfish, and shrimp).
- May not be longer than 20 feet.
- May not have mesh exceeding ½-inch square.
- Must be manually operated.
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 fish and other aquatic animal life (including crayfish 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 fish 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 fish only, not a legal means to take fish in a community fishing lake.
Throwline
For use in FRESH WATER only. A fishing line with five or less hooks and with one end attached to a permanent fixture. Components
of a throwline may also include swivels, snaps, rubber, and rigid support structures.
- May be used to take NONGAME fish, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish only.
- Must be used with a valid gear tag attached. Gear tag is valid for 10 days after the date set out.
Trotline in Fresh Water
A non-metallic main fishing line with more than five hooks attached and with each end attached to a fixture.
- Nongame fish, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish may be taken by trotline.
- Red drum caught on a trotline may not be retained or possessed.
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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 fishing line and attached hooks and stagings placed above the water's surface.
- Tag Requirements: Must be used with a valid GEAR TAG (see "Definitions" dropdown in "General Fishing
Rules for Fresh Waters"). Properly-marked buoys or floats qualify as valid gear tags. Gear tags must be attached within 3
feet of the first 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.
Umbrella Net
A non-metallic mesh net that is suspended horizontally in the water by multiple lines attached to a rigid frame.
- Legal only for taking NONGAME fish and other aquatic animal life (including crabs, crayfish, and shrimp).
- May not have within the frame an area that exceeds 16 square feet.
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