Texas Porch

Freshwater / Bass

Largemouth, smallmouth & other black bass

The fish Texas is famous for.

Largemouth are the giants people chase; Guadalupe bass is the official Texas state fish.

Daily limit

5 per day, in any combination of the five black bass.

Size limit

14-inch minimum for largemouth and smallmouth. No minimum for spotted, Guadalupe, and Alabama bass.

Good to know

  • Many famous lakes have special rules that override the statewide limit - slot limits that protect trophy fish (Lake Fork is the classic). Always check your lake on the exceptions page.

Source to confirm: TPWD Freshwater Bag & Length Limits / Exceptions

More freshwater fish

Others to target

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 ->

Catfish

Flathead catfish

The bruiser of Texas catfish.

Daily:
5 per day.
Size:
18-inch minimum.
Details & official link ->

Official sources

Fishing rules for largemouth, smallmouth & other black bass 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.

Page feedback

Report something wrong or unclear.

Send a note about this page. The page address will be included automatically.

Send a note