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Do You Need a Fishing License in Texas?
Yes. Anyone age 17 or older needs a fishing license to fish public waters in Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) issues all licenses and enforces fishing law statewide.
Disabled veterans with 50 percent or higher service-connected disability qualify for free Super Combos.
Saltwater anglers need a saltwater fishing endorsement on top of the base license. Freshwater anglers fishing for red drum need a Red Drum Tag included with most license packages.
How Much Does a Texas Fishing License Cost in 2026?
Resident freshwater fishing license costs $30. Resident saltwater is $35. The all-water package, covering both, runs $40. Senior residents 65+ pay $12 for freshwater, $17 saltwater, or $22 all-water.
Nonresidents pay $58 for the freshwater package, $63 for saltwater, or $68 for the all-water package. The nonresident 1-day all-water license is $16.
Standard annual licenses expire August 31 no matter when you buy them. The Year-from-Purchase All-Water Package, valid 12 months from the purchase date, is sold to Texas residents only and costs $47, which makes it the better buy after about March.
| License package | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Resident freshwater package | $30 |
| Resident saltwater package | $35 |
| Resident all-water package | $40 |
| Senior resident (65+) freshwater | $12 |
| Senior resident (65+) saltwater | $17 |
| Senior resident (65+) all-water | $22 |
| Year-from-Purchase all-water (residents only) | $47 |
| Nonresident freshwater package | $58 |
| Nonresident saltwater package | $63 |
| Nonresident all-water package | $68 |
| One-day all-water (resident) | $11 |
| One-day all-water (nonresident) | $16 |
| Super Combo hunting + all-water fishing (residents only) | $68 |
How Much Is a 1-Day Fishing License in Texas?
A 1-day Texas fishing license costs $16 for nonresidents or $11 for Texas residents. Both are all-water licenses covering freshwater and saltwater, and they are the only short-term fishing licenses TPWD sells.
For a single day of shore fishing inside a Texas State Park, see the free-fishing rules below.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Fishing License in Texas?
You need a Texas fishing license starting at age 17. Anglers under 17 fish free, including in saltwater, and residents born before September 1, 1930 also fish free with proof of age.
Where to Buy a Texas Fishing License
Buy online at TPWD (opens in a new tab) or through the Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app. Digital licenses display on your phone and are valid immediately.
In-person sales happen at Academy Sports, Walmart, H-E-B, Bass Pro Shops, and over 1,700 retail locations statewide. Bring photo ID for resident rates.
Phone orders are available at 1-800-895-4248. A $5 administrative fee applies to phone and online sales.
Texas Free Fishing Day 2026
Texas Free Fishing Day is the first Saturday in June. In 2026, free fishing day falls on Saturday, June 6. No license is required for anyone fishing public waters in Texas on this day.
Texas State Parks allow free fishing year-round without a license when fishing from shore inside a park. This is one of the most generous park-fishing rules in the country.
All bag limits, size limits, and area closures still apply during free fishing day and in state parks.
Texas Fishing Regulations You Should Know
Statewide freshwater limits include 5 largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass combined (14-inch minimum on most waters), 25 crappie (10-inch minimum), and 25 channel/blue catfish combined (12-inch minimum).
Saltwater limits cover species like spotted seatrout (3 daily, 15-20 inch slot south of FM 457), red drum (3 daily, 20-28 inch slot, plus tag for oversized), and flounder (5 daily, 15-inch minimum).
Many Texas reservoirs have water-specific exception regulations. Falcon, Lake Fork, and Sam Rayburn carry special bass slot limits. Check the TPWD Outdoor Annual before fishing new water.
Best Fishing Spots in Texas
Lake Fork is the most famous trophy largemouth bass lake in the country, producing more ShareLunkers (13+ pound bass) than any other water. Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, and Falcon also rank near the top nationally.
Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay, and the Lower Laguna Madre offer world-class saltwater fishing for trout, redfish, and flounder. The Texas Gulf Coast extends over 350 miles with countless access points.
The Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake is the southernmost trout fishery in the US, stocked with rainbows in winter. Lake Texoma is a top striped bass destination on the Oklahoma border.
Frequently Asked Questions
A resident freshwater fishing license costs $30, saltwater is $35, and the all-water combo costs $40. Nonresidents pay $58 freshwater, $63 saltwater, or $68 for the all-water annual package.
No. Texas State Parks allow free fishing year-round from shore inside park boundaries. No fishing license is required. Bag limits and size limits still apply.
Free Fishing Day falls on Saturday, June 6, 2026. No license is required to fish public waters in Texas that day. All bag and size limits remain in effect.
No. Anglers under age 17 fish free in Texas, including in saltwater. They must still follow TPWD bag limits, size limits, and red drum tag rules when keeping fish.
Yes if you fish saltwater with a freshwater-only license. Most anglers buy the all-water package for $40, which covers both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
Buy online at tpwd.texas.gov or through the Texas Outdoor Annual app. Digital licenses on your phone are accepted by game wardens statewide.