Fishing / Where you can fish
Where you can fish.
Most Texas lakes, rivers, and bays are public. There are also free ways to fish, family-friendly stocked lakes, and a long coast - with one line worth knowing about offshore.
Public waters
Most Texas lakes, rivers, and bays are public - you need a license with the right endorsement to fish them. TPWD's Lake Finder and Where to Fish tools show spots, boat ramps, and what's stocked.
Community Fishing Lakes
Community Fishing Lakes are small lakes in or near towns, often stocked with catfish and trout - great for families. They have simple rules: pole and line only, two poles max.
Private ponds
No license is needed to fish your own private water if it's fully enclosed and doesn't connect to public water.
Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma sits on the Texas-Oklahoma border and has its own rules. To fish the whole lake you either need both a Texas and an Oklahoma license, or the special Lake Texoma License (about $12). That license is valid through December 31 after you buy it - not the usual Aug. 31 license year. Striped bass have their own Texoma limits, too.
Close to home
Family fishing near the big metros.
You do not have to drive far. Every big metro has public lakes with bank access, and TPWD's Neighborhood Fishin' program keeps small park ponds stocked with catfish in the warm months and rainbow trout in winter.
Houston
- Lake Conroe The big lake north of the city. Channel catfish are the most abundant sportfish, and the bluegill run big.
- Sheldon Lake State Park A state park inside Houston. Fishing is free, and kids have two catch-and-release ponds of their own.
Stocked park ponds: Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy and Burke Crenshaw Park in Pasadena.
Dallas-Fort Worth
- Lewisville Lake North of the metroplex. Crappie and white bass see the most action, and the catfishing is excellent.
- Grapevine Lake Just north of the city of Grapevine. Largemouth bass is the top draw.
- Joe Pool Lake Four miles south of Grand Prairie. Largemouth bass leads, with white bass, crappie, and channel catfish behind it.
Stocked park ponds: Chisholm Park in Hurst and Greenbriar Park in Fort Worth.
San Antonio
- Calaveras Lake About 20 miles south, off Loop 1604. A warm power-plant lake with redfish, hybrid stripers, and catfish.
- Braunig Lake South of town off I-37. Redfish are the most popular catch, and one fee receipt covers both lakes.
Stocked park ponds: Millers Pond and Southside Lions Park.
Austin
- Lady Bird Lake Runs right through downtown. Bank fishing at Auditorium Shores and Festival Beach; gas motors are not allowed.
- Walter E. Long Lake East of town in a day-use park. Known for largemouth bass and hybrid stripers.
Stocked park ponds: Bullfrog Pond and Kingfisher Lake at Travis County East Metro Park.
El Paso
- Ascarate Lake In Ascarate Park in central El Paso. TPWD stocks rainbow trout here each winter.
El Paso is not in the Neighborhood Fishin' program yet, so Ascarate is the dependable close-in water.
The coast
Texas state water reaches 9 nautical miles from shore.
Out in the Gulf, Texas state waters extend 9 nautical miles from the beach. Past that line, federal rules add another layer. This matters most for red snapper, so know which side of the line you're fishing.
State water (out to 9 nm): Texas rules. Red snapper is open year-round, 4 per day, 15-inch minimum.
Federal water (past 9 nm): federal rules. Red snapper is 2 per day, 16-inch minimum, only during the season that's set each year.
Plan the trip
Official sources
Where-to-fish tools and state-park rules come from Texas Parks & Wildlife. Use the official tools for current stocking and access.
- Data vintage:
- Built on the 2025-2026 license year
- Last reviewed:
- July 10, 2026
- TPWD Where to Fish - Spots, ramps, and what's stocked
- TPWD Lake Finder
- TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' - Stocked urban park ponds
- TPWD State Parks
Before you act: Stocking, access, and lake-specific rules change. The official TPWD pages are the final word. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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