Freshwater / Other
Alligator gar
A giant, ancient fish - and a Texas specialty.
Texas rivers hold enormous alligator gar, and the fishery is managed carefully.
Daily limit
1 per day statewide (5 per day at Falcon International Reservoir).
Size limit
No statewide size limit (some waters have special rules).
Good to know
- You must report every alligator gar you keep within 24 hours (except from Falcon Reservoir) using the Texas Hunt & Fish app or website.
- A gar taken with a bow may not be released back into the water.
- On the defined Trinity River stretch, you may normally keep only a gar under 48 inches. Keeping a larger one takes a draw authorization, and nighttime bow fishing there also requires that authorization.
- TPWD may post a temporary spawning closure for a specific area, so check the live gar page before a trip.
- No alligator gar may be taken in May from the Red River and Lake Texoma area (Cooke, Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Red River, and Bowie counties).
Source to confirm: TPWD Alligator Gar Restrictions
More freshwater fish
Others to target
Bass
Largemouth, smallmouth & other black bass
Largemouth are the giants people chase; Guadalupe bass is the official Texas state fish.
- Daily:
- 5 per day, in any combination of the five black bass.
- Size:
- 14-inch minimum for largemouth and smallmouth. No minimum for spotted, Guadalupe, and Alabama bass.
Bass
Striped & hybrid striped bass
A strong fight in big open water and tailraces.
- Daily:
- 5 per day, in any combination.
- Size:
- 18-inch minimum (statewide).
Bass
White bass
A smaller cousin that runs up rivers to spawn in spring.
- Daily:
- 25 per day.
- Size:
- 10-inch minimum.
Catfish
Recently changedChannel & blue catfish
Found in nearly every lake and river in the state.
- Daily:
- 25 per day combined (channel and blue together), and no more than 10 may be 20 inches or longer.
- Size:
- No minimum length.
Official sources
Fishing rules for alligator gar come from Texas Parks & Wildlife. Confirm the size and bag limit before you keep one.
- Data vintage:
- Built on the 2025-2026 license year
- Last reviewed:
- July 10, 2026
- TPWD Alligator Gar Restrictions - Official page for this fish
- TPWD Freshwater Bag & Length Limits
- TPWD Fishing Regulations
Before you act: Sizes and bag limits change, and saltwater rules change the most. The official TPWD pages are the final word. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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