Do I Need a Fishing License in Texas? Exemptions, Costs, and Penalties

Yes, you need a fishing license in Texas if you are 17 or older and plan to fish in any public water, whether you live in the state or are visiting. The requirement covers rivers, lakes, reservoirs, bays, and the Gulf of Mexico, and it applies to every legal fishing method. A resident freshwater package costs $30 and a resident all-water package costs $40. Several groups are exempt, but for most people the answer is simple: buy the license before you cast.

Who Is Exempt

You can fish in Texas without a license if any of the following applies to you:

• You are under 17, resident or not.¹Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
• You are a Texas resident born before January 1, 1931.²State of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 46.002 – Exemptions
• You are fishing inside a Texas state park. Park entrance fees still apply.¹Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
• It is Free Fishing Day, the first Saturday in June.³State of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 46.0012 – Free Sportfishing Day
• You are a disabled veteran with a VA disability rating of 50 percent or higher, or who has lost the use of a foot or leg. You qualify for a free Super Combo package covering hunting and all-water fishing.⁴Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package
• You are fishing as part of medically approved therapy supervised by approved hospital or school personnel, or you have a mental illness or intellectual disability and are fishing under the direct supervision of a licensed angler who is a family member or has the family’s permission.²State of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 46.002 – Exemptions

Being exempt from the license doesn’t change anything else. Bag limits, size limits, and seasonal restrictions still apply.

What a License Costs

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department sells licenses as packages that bundle the base license with the endorsement for the water you plan to fish. Every package is valid from the date of purchase through August 31, the end of the Texas license year. Saltwater packages also include red drum and spotted seatrout tags at no extra cost.⁵Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Endorsements, Tags and Permits

Resident Packages

• Freshwater Package: $30
• Saltwater Package: $35
• All-Water Package: $40
• Senior Freshwater Package: $12
• Senior Saltwater Package: $17

Non-Resident Packages

• Freshwater Package: $58
• Saltwater Package: $63
• All-Water Package: $68

One-Day License

Fishing for just a day or two? The One-Day All-Water License costs $11 for residents and $16 for non-residents, and it doesn’t require a separate endorsement.¹Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages

How To Buy One

There are three ways to get a Texas fishing license:

• Online at txfgsales.com. A $5 administrative fee applies.⁶Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Official Online Fishing and Hunting License Sales
• By phone at (800) 895-4248, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. The same $5 fee applies.⁶Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Official Online Fishing and Hunting License Sales
• In person at roughly 1,800 retail locations, including sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops, grocery stores, and TPWD offices. No $5 fee at retail.⁷Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Where to Get Licenses

You’ll need your name, address, and date of birth. A replacement for a lost physical license costs $10.⁸Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Frequently Asked Questions About Licenses

What Happens If You Fish Without One

Fishing without a required license is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. The fine runs from $25 to $500. Game wardens in Texas are full law enforcement officers and patrol popular fishing spots, boat ramps, and piers regularly, so the odds of a check are higher than many unlicensed anglers assume.⁹Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Laws, Penalties and Restitution

A conviction can also trigger suspension or revocation of your fishing privileges for up to five years, and any gear used in the violation can be confiscated.⁹Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Laws, Penalties and Restitution

One Note on Saltwater

If your Texas package includes a saltwater endorsement, you do not need to register separately with the National Saltwater Angler Registry run by NOAA. That federal registry only applies to anglers without a state-issued saltwater license.¹⁰NOAA Fisheries. Frequent Questions – National Saltwater Angler Registry

• 1
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
• 2
  State of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 46.002 – Exemptions
• 3
  State of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Code 46.0012 – Free Sportfishing Day
• 4
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package
• 5
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Endorsements, Tags and Permits
• 6
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Official Online Fishing and Hunting License Sales
• 7
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Where to Get Licenses
• 8
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Frequently Asked Questions About Licenses
• 9
  Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Laws, Penalties and Restitution
• 10
  NOAA Fisheries. Frequent Questions – National Saltwater Angler Registry