Fishing Falcon Lake: What You Need to Know

Falcon Reservoir covers about 83,654 acres on the Rio Grande, partly in Zapata County and partly in Mexico. Largemouth bass and channel catfish are the main catch. Texas Parks and Wildlife says winning a bass tournament here often takes a 5–6 pound average per fish.

The lake is split by an international border. If your boat drifts into Mexican waters, everyone on board needs a Mexico fishing license — not a Texas one. You can buy Mexico licenses from local tackle shops in Zapata. On the Texas side, all fish follow standard statewide rules except alligator gar, which has a daily bag limit of five fish with no minimum size. Water levels can swing 40–50 feet, so check conditions before you launch.