 Red Snapper is a feisty saltwater fish prized for its delicious flavor. Summer is the time to hunt for the supersized red snapper found in deep federal waters that begin 9 nautical miles from shore.
To attract snapper, our artificial reef program places structures in both federal and state waters. Find them with the interactive map. Don't have a boat? There are plenty of coastal charter boats ready to take you or your group to the action.
Review the regulations before you head out; fishing for red snapper in federal waters has its own rules. Log your harvest with the Texas Hunt & Fish app, and refer to the Outdoor Annual app for all your angling regulations.
Find tips for catching red snapper in our magazine story Surprisingly Red, and don't miss our fun video Red Snapper SZN.
NEW: The disCARD Project collects data on released reef fish. You may receive a disCARD card at a boat ramp. Note your released reef fish on it, then text a picture of the card. Participation is optional. Find more info in our press release Federal Red Snapper Season to Open May 22.
 Many Texans have fond childhood memories of fishing for bluegill or other sunfish. Sunfish are petite, pretty and plentiful — perfect for kid fishing.
You'll need small hooks and light tackle. Try fly fishing with wet flies, or a bobber with a worm is always fun. Before you head out, download our beautifully illustrated Guide to the Sunfish of Texas (PDF).
Find more tips on catching sunfish in the Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine story Sunny With a Chance of Fun. Check out beginner tips, and hone the kids' skills at our organized fishing events.
Sunfish have no bag or size limit, and kids under 17 don't need a license! This summer, create lifelong memories by fishing for sunfish with the kids.
A child's life jacket can slip off in water if it's not fitted correctly. Keep your child as safe as possible by watching our short video How to Put a Life Jacket on a Kid.
Texas law requires that children under 13 years old on vessels less than 26 feet long must wear a Coast Guard-approved lifejacket/personal flotation device (PFD). Let's all stay safe on the water!
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Improve your on-the-water success with our webinar, Redfish Rundown, taking place August 20, 6-8 p.m. The webinar is free,but you must register to join.
Our experienced TPWD team will cover targeting redfish (also known as red drum), using rod‑and‑reel techniques, fisheries projects and more. We welcome your redfish-related questions, and you can submit questions when you sign up.
Whether you're a new or experienced angler, you'll learn something new. Register for our redfish webinar today.
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It’s starting to heat up out there, and that means we’re stocking channel catfish in urban Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes and ponds. Catfish love stinky bait, so try using chicken livers, shrimp, stinkbait or cut hot dogs to catch them.
Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes are an easy way to take the entire family fishing. Catfish stocking continues most of the summer, so check out the stocking locations, grab the family and go catfishin'!
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A message from our non-profit partner, Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation:
For 30 years, Sea Center Texas has been a cherished hub for coastal conservation, education and marine hatchery innovation. Since opening in 1996, Sea Center has welcomed 1.8+ million visitors and stocked Texas’ bays with 400+ million hatchery-bred sportfish, including red drum, speckled trout, and other prized species that draw aspiring anglers to the Texas Coast each year.
The center will soon get a campus-wide overhaul to include improvements to the visitor center, hatchery, a new ADA-accessible fishing pier and more! Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation has committed to raising $11 million in private funding and will also provide construction management of the project.
Support the effort today to help ensure Sea Center can continue to welcome and wow new visitors for generations to come.
If you see live maggots on a live animal, immediately report the sighting, and do not move the animal. It may be infested with New World Screwworm (NWS).
NWS are flies that lay eggs in open wounds and moist body parts of live mammals. The eggs hatch into maggots that feed on living tissue. They kill the animal if left untreated. The first case of NWS in Texas was found on a calf on June 3, 2026.
Stay informed with our NWS updates and watch our video short New World Screwworms.
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