Fishing Licenses and Packages

Fishing Licenses and Packages

Effective September 1, 2004, anyone fishing in fresh waters of this state must possess a freshwater fishing stamp endorsement issued by the department.

The first Saturday in June of each year is the annual Free Fishing Day and no person is required to have a fishing license or stamp endorsements while fishing on that day.

For information on LIFETIME, DISABLED VETERAN, and COMBINATION licenses/packages, see General Information About Licenses, Stamps and Tags.

Resident Fishing Licenses:

Required of any resident who fishes in the public waters of Texas (Note: All members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty and their dependents are considered residents).

You do not need a license/package if you:

• are under 17 years of age.
• were born before Sept. 1, 1930.
• are a mentally disabled person who is engaging in recreational fishing as part of medically approved therapy, and who is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or employed by a hospital, residence, or school for mentally disabled persons. The mentally disabled person must carry an authorization identifying the entity supplying the service. This authorization may be in the form of an I.D. card that contains the name of the sponsoring entity.
• are a mentally retarded person and you are recreational fishing under the direct supervision of a licensed fisherman who is a family member or who is a licensed fisherman that has permission from the family to take the mentally retarded person fishing. While fishing, the mentally retarded person needs a note from a doctor stating the person has been diagnosed as mentally retarded.

A resident fishing license is included in all Super Combination and Combination packages, the Lifetime Resident Combination and Lifetime Resident Fishing licenses (see details), and the various resident fishing packages offered by the Department (see table below). A resident who holds one of these licenses/packages is not required to purchase a separate resident fishing license.

Non-Resident Fishing Licenses:

Required of all non-residents who fish in the public waters of Texas. Licenses/Packages are not required if you are a:

• non-resident under 17 years of age;
• Louisiana resident 65 years of age or older who possesses a valid Louisiana Recreational Fishing License (includes Senior Fish/Hunt License); or
• Oklahoma resident 64 years of age or older.

Fishing Packages

The Department offers a variety of fishing packages from which the public may select based on the type of fishing (freshwater, saltwater, or both) and term/duration of license desired.

License Year Fishing Packages provide a resident, special resident, or non-resident fishing license valid from September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006 and either a freshwater stamp endorsement, a saltwater stamp endorsement with a red drum tag, or both stamp endorsements valid for the same time period.

Special Resident Fishing Packages are available to any Texas resident who is at least 65 years if age and was born on or after Sept. 1, 1930; or is legally blind. The packages include a special resident fishing license, and either a freshwater stamp endorsement, a saltwater stamp endorsement with a red drum tag, or both depending on the package selected.

"Day Plus" Packages provide a resident or non-resident fishing license valid for the selected day or days purchased and either a freshwater stamp endorsement, a saltwater stamp endorsement with a red drum tag, or both stamp endorsements valid for the same days. More than one day may be purchased, but additional days purchased must be consecutive and must be specified by the purchaser at the time of purchase. If a purchaser of a Day Plus Fishing Package wishes to re-purchase the same type of Day Plus Package at a later date within the same license year, the price charged will be the lower amount (see below).

July and August Fishing Packages (available only to Texas residents) provide a resident fishing license valid from July 1, 2006 to August 31, 2006 and either a freshwater stamp endorsement, a saltwater stamp endorsement with a red drum tag, or both stamp endorsements valid for the same time period.

Year-from-Purchase All-Water Fishing Package (available only to Texas residents) provides a resident fishing license valid from the date of purchase through the end of the purchase month of the next license year, and a freshwater stamp endorsement and saltwater stamp endorsement with a red drum tag, valid for the same time period.

Please note that if you own any valid freshwater fishing package, you will be able to purchase a saltwater stamp endorsement, and conversely, if you own any valid saltwater fishing package you will be able to purchase a freshwater stamp endorsement.

Sport Oyster Boat License:

Required when using a sport oyster dredge or tongs to take oysters. Resident (Type 328): $12 - For boats registered in Texas or having a U.S. Coast Guard document that shows the owner's address is in Texas. Non-resident (Type 428): $48

Fishing Guide License:

Required for any person who for compensation, accompanies, assists, or transports any person engaged in fishing in the waters of the state.

• $125 for operating as a resident or non-resident fishing guide in the fresh waters of the state. (Type 600 Resident; Type 700 Non-Resident)
• $200 for operating as a resident fishing guide in the salt waters AND fresh waters of the state (Type 610 Resident)
• $1,000 for operating as a non-resident fishing guide in salt waters AND fresh waters of the state (Type 710 Non-Resident).

Saltwater fishing guide licenses available only at TPWD Law Enforcement Offices. Freshwater fishing guide licenses available at any location where licenses are sold.

A vessel operator's license is required from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to carry passengers for hire on waters designated as navigable by the USCG. It is the operator's responsibility to assure compliance with USCG regulations. No person operating a vessel or boat as a fishing guide on or in the salt waters of this state may be issued a Fishing Guide License unless the person presents documentation to the license deputy that the applicant possesses a valid and appropriate U.S. Coast Guard Operator's License. For additional information, contact the USCG Regional Examination Center in Houston, TX at (713) 948-3350.

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