Bluebonnet Acres Landowners Association

FRESHWATER FISHING HARVEST REGULATIONS

POSSESSION LIMITS

Statewide regulations apply for all public fresh waters except for those locations noted in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
A person taking or attempting to take game and nongame fish from fresh water for non-commercial purposes is required to have a valid fishing license and a freshwater fishing stamp endorsement.
For game or nongame fish not listed below, there are NO statewide bag or length limits. The only nongame fishes with bag or length limits are shad (Trinity River) and common carp (Lady Bird Lake). See Exceptions for these limits.
Possession limit is twice the statewide daily bag. The only exception to the statewide possession limits in fresh water is for striped bass from Lake Texoma. Please note that on Lake Livingston and Toledo Bend Reservoir where some daily bag limits are larger than the statewide daily bag, the possession limits remain twice the statewide daily bag limits listed below. Fish stored by a person at their permanent residence do not apply to their possession limit.
For saltwater finfish species caught in the public fresh waters of this state, saltwater bag, possession, and length limits apply.
Some reservoirs have special regulations for red drum: see exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
Statewide Bag and Length Limits for Freshwater Fish
Species Daily Bag Length (minimum)
Bass: 5 (in any combination)
largemouth and smallmouth 14 inches
spotted and Guadalupe No minimum
Bass, striped and hybrid 5 (in any combination) 18 inches
Bass, white 25 10 inches
Bass, yellow No limit No minimum
Catfish: channel and blue, their hybrids and subspecies 25 (in any combination) 12 inches
Catfish, flathead 5 18 inches
Crappie: white and black, their hybrids and subspecies 25 (in any combination) 10 inches
Paddlefish No harvest allowed
Saugeye 3 18 inches
Sunfish: various species including bluegill, redear, green, warmouth and longear No limit No minimum
Trout: rainbow and brown, their hybrids and subspecies 5 (in any combination) No minimum
Walleye 5 (only 2 can be less than 16 inches in length) No minimum

tips for releasing fish

You manage for the future when you follow these handy tips for releasing fish.

When practical:

Quickly play and release fish.
Keep fish in water as much as possible.
Remove hook with pliers or cut line.
Gently place fish back into water.
Revive fish by holding upright in water and moving back and forth, gently forcing water through gills.
For saltwater fishes only: The following procedures are NOT recommended for use with any freshwater fishes.

When releasing fish that cannot right itself or is showing a distended air bladder:

Gently insert a thin point (knife blade, wire, or ice pick) through the side of the fish immediately behind the upper part of the pectoral fin base. This is usually directly below the fourth or fifth spine.
Revive fish as described above.

IDENTIFICATION OF BASS

Identification of Yellow, White, Striped and Hybrid Striped Bass
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Yellow Bass
A Does not have a tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Stripes distinct, broken above anal fin.
C Dorsal fins joined.
D Color - silvery yellow

White Bass
A Has one tooth patch near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Body deep, more than 1/3 length.
C Stripes faint, only one extends to tail.



Striped Bass
A Has two, distinct tooth patches near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Body slender, less than 1/3 length.
C Stripes distinct, several extend to tail.



Hybrid Striped Bass
A Has two, distinct tooth patches near the midline towards the back of the tongue.
B Body deep, more than 1/3 length.
C Stripes distinct, usually broken, several extend to tail.