Texas Porch

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.
Details & official link ->

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).
Details & official link ->

Bass

White bass

A smaller cousin that runs up rivers to spawn in spring.

Daily:
25 per day.
Size:
10-inch minimum.
Details & official link ->

Catfish

Recently changed

Channel & 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.
Details & official link ->

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

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.