El Paso County Has Restrictions on Live Bait for Fishing

You cannot use just any fish as bait in El Paso County. Only certain species are allowed as live or dead bait. The approved list includes common carp, fathead minnows, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, sunfish, goldfish, golden shiners, Mexican tetra, Rio Grande cichlid, and silversides. Using anything outside that list breaks the rules.

Far West Texas has these limits to stop invasive species from spreading into local rivers and lakes. The Rio Grande and other desert water sources are sensitive. Their ecosystems can be hard to restore once damaged. Always check current bait rules with TPWD before you fish. Rules can change between seasons.