Fishing / Where you can fish
Where you can fish.
Most Texas lakes, rivers, and bays are public. There are also free ways to fish, family-friendly stocked lakes, and a long coast - with one line worth knowing about offshore.
Public waters
Most Texas lakes, rivers, and bays are public - you need a license with the right endorsement to fish them. TPWD's Lake Finder and Where to Fish tools show spots, boat ramps, and what's stocked.
Community Fishing Lakes
Community Fishing Lakes are small lakes in or near towns, often stocked with catfish and trout - great for families. They have simple rules: pole and line only, two poles max.
Private ponds
No license is needed to fish your own private water if it's fully enclosed and doesn't connect to public water.
Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma sits on the Texas-Oklahoma border and has its own rules. To fish the whole lake you either need both a Texas and an Oklahoma license, or the special Lake Texoma License (about $12). That license is valid through December 31 after you buy it - not the usual Aug. 31 license year. Striped bass have their own Texoma limits, too.
The coast
Texas state water reaches 9 nautical miles from shore.
Out in the Gulf, Texas state waters extend 9 nautical miles from the beach - unusually far (most states only get 3; Texas and the Gulf side of Florida are the exceptions). Past 9 miles you're in federal water, where some rules differ. This matters most for red snapper.
State water (out to 9 nm): Texas rules. Red snapper is open year-round, 4 per day, 15-inch minimum.
Federal water (past 9 nm): federal rules. Red snapper is 2 per day, 16-inch minimum, only during the season that's set each year.
Plan the trip
Official sources
Where-to-fish tools and state-park rules come from Texas Parks & Wildlife. Use the official tools for current stocking and access.
- Data vintage:
- Built on the 2025-2026 license year
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- TPWD Where to Fish - Spots, ramps, and what's stocked
- TPWD Lake Finder
- TPWD State Parks
Caution: Stocking, access, and lake-specific rules change. The official TPWD pages are the final word.