The alligator gar is the largest freshwater fish in Texas – the current state record is 283 pounds for a fish caught last year by Arthur Weston, a catch that broke world records as well!
The Trinity River has some of the world’s best fishing for huge alligator gar, so enter the drawing to harvest one from the Trinity over the 48" limit. Enter by Sept. 30 using the Texas Hunt & Fish app (THF) or online – there's no cost, you only need a Texas fishing license to enter. See our press release for details.
Rod and reel is how most Texans fish for these megafish, and rope flies are surprisingly effective – learn more in the Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine story Gar on the Fly.
Your daily bag limit is 1, and alligator gar harvests must be reported within 24 hours using THF. Find all gar regulations in the Outdoor Annual. And don't miss our 3 tips to catch-and-release large gar.
My Texas Hunt Harvest is now called Texas Hunt & Fish and available as an app or online. Updates for the 2024-25 license year included an updated app interface and digital tagging enhancements.
A tag system for harvesting oversized spotted seatrout went into effect Sept. 1, 2024. The tag allows harvest of one spotted seatrout longer than 28 inches. Daily bag limit is 3, with a minimum length of 15″ and a max length of 20″.
For more information, see our short video Digital License and Tagging Information.
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In 2020 we began tracking the habits of largemouth bass in Toledo Bend and Lake Fork using radio transmitters. This was due to reports that anglers weren’t catching as many of these fish as they had in the past, despite healthy fish populations.
The study is complete, revealing many largemouth bass habits that can help you target them, including:
- The majority react to boat noise, and those over 20 inches were most likely to react to boat noise.
- They stick to home areas and don’t migrate throughout a lake.
- Traditional target spots proved to be best, like drops, points, creeks and habitat structures.
- They become very wary if they sense an angler's presence.
“A big take home of this study is how important it is to be as stealthy as possible when fishing for largemouth bass,” said Inland Fisheries Division Tyler District Supervisor Jake Norman. Get Norman's stealth tips and more reveals from this study in our press release TPWD Completes Groundbreaking Bass Tracking Study.
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s 4th Annual Gear Up for Game Wardens Auction is Oct. 1-3!
Here’s your chance to bid on dozens of excursions and exclusive items to lure any angler! Cast away on a coastal fishing trip or bid big on a wade along the beautiful Brazos. We also have tons of collectible YETI gear you can’t find anywhere else, and countless bragworthy finds tailor-made for Texas’ great outdoors.
Register online or text GEARUP2024 to 243725
Auction proceeds provide program support to ensure Gear Up for Game Wardens can continue to get much-needed equipment in the hands of your Texas Game Wardens.
It’s easy to misidentify sharks. Review the list of prohibited shark species and their distinctive features, so you can quickly identify protected sharks. If you’re unsure about the species, release it.
Find out more about the research we do about sharks in our short video Shark Survey.
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