A Texas fishing license costs $40 for a resident all-water package and $68 for the non-resident version, both of which cover every lake, river, bay, and stretch of Gulf coastline in the state. One-day licenses start at $11 for residents and $16 for non-residents. Seniors, disabled veterans, and anglers under 17 pay less or nothing at all.
Resident Prices
If you fish both fresh and salt water, the all-water package at $40 is the one most Texas residents buy. It bundles the base fishing license with freshwater and saltwater endorsements and includes red drum and spotted seatrout tags.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages Stick to inland lakes and rivers and the freshwater package drops to $30. Stick to bays and the Gulf and the saltwater package is $35.2Legal Information Institute. Texas Administrative Code 31-53.6 – Recreational Fishing Licenses, Stamps, and Tags
For a single trip, a one-day all-water license costs $11. The first one-day license you buy in a license year comes with a free red drum tag and spotted seatrout tag; later one-day licenses don’t include them.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
There is also a year-from-purchase all-water package for $47. It’s worth knowing about because of how standard licenses expire, which is covered below.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
Non-Resident Prices
Non-residents pay about $28 more across the board. The all-water package is $68, freshwater only is $58, and saltwater only is $63.2Legal Information Institute. Texas Administrative Code 31-53.6 – Recreational Fishing Licenses, Stamps, and Tags A non-resident one-day all-water license runs $16.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
No year-from-purchase option exists for non-residents. If you’re planning a week-long visit, stacking one-day licenses passes the price of the full annual package after five days, so the $68 annual becomes the cheaper buy quickly.
To qualify for resident pricing, you must have lived in Texas continuously for more than six months. A valid Texas driver’s license is the common proof, though other residency documents work.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Purchase Requirements for Licenses, Endorsements and Tags
Senior, Lifetime, and Disabled Veteran Prices
Texas residents 65 and older pay a fraction of the standard rates:1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
- Senior freshwater package: $12
- Senior saltwater package: $17
- Senior all-water package: $22
Seniors who hunt as well can buy a combo hunting and all-water fishing package for $26.4Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Super Combo License Packages
A lifetime resident fishing package is a one-time $1,000 purchase that includes both freshwater and saltwater endorsements permanently, with no age-based tiers.5Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Lifetime Licenses At $40 a year for the standard all-water package, it breaks even after 25 years.
Disabled veterans with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher, or loss of use of a foot or leg, qualify for a free Super Combo covering both hunting and all-water fishing. You must be receiving VA compensation and show proof of disability each year. A VA letter issued within the last 12 months works, as does a Texas driver’s license with the “Disabled Veteran” designation.6Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Disabled Veteran Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package
Who Fishes for Free
Anyone under 17 can fish Texas public waters without a license.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages A handful of other groups are also exempt:
- People born before January 1, 1931.
- People with an intellectual disability, when fishing under the direct supervision of a licensed family member (with a doctor’s note) or as part of approved therapy through a hospital, residence, or school.
- Anyone fishing inside a state park or in waters completely enclosed by one. On park docks, piers, and jetties, you’re limited to pole-and-line with a maximum of two poles. Bag and size limits still apply, and you still pay park entry.
1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages7Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Free Fishing Opportunities
Fishing a private stock tank or pond with no public access doesn’t require a license either.8Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. General Fishing Regulations And the first Saturday in June each year is Free Fishing Day, when anyone can fish recreationally in Texas without a license or endorsement.7Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Free Fishing Opportunities
Watch the Expiration Date
Standard Texas fishing packages expire on August 31 of the license year, no matter when you buy them. A license purchased in July gives you less than two months before you need a new one. Early fall is the best time to buy a standard package since you get close to a full year.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
The $47 year-from-purchase all-water package avoids that trap. It runs from your purchase date through the end of that same month in the following license year, giving you roughly 12 full months regardless of when you buy. If you’re buying anywhere outside late summer, the extra $7 over the standard $40 package usually pays for itself.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
One-day licenses are valid only for the specific date you select at purchase.1Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fishing Licenses and Packages
Where to Buy
You have three options:
- Online through the TPWD license sales site at txfgsales.com. A $5 administrative fee applies, and you can choose a mailed paper license or a digital license on your phone.
- By phone at (800) 895-4248, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central. Same $5 admin fee.
- In person at any of roughly 1,700 retailers across Texas, including sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops, grocery stores, and TPWD offices. No admin fee here.
A digital license shown through TPWD’s Outdoor Annual or Texas Hunt & Fish app is valid proof in the field, so you don’t have to carry paper.10Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Digital Licenses and Tagging Replacements for lost physical licenses cost $3 to $10.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Purchase Requirements for Licenses, Endorsements and Tags
When you buy, you’ll provide your full name, date of birth, and physical address. You’ll also be asked for your Social Security number, which is required under federal and state law for child support enforcement. Children 13 and younger are exempt; anyone older who refuses to provide an SSN won’t be sold a license.3Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Purchase Requirements for Licenses, Endorsements and Tags
What It Costs to Skip the License
Fishing without a valid license in Texas is a misdemeanor. TPWD groups violations into tiers:11Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Laws, Penalties and Restitution
- Class C misdemeanor: $25 to $500 fine.
- Class B misdemeanor: $200 to $2,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.
- Class A misdemeanor: $500 to $4,000 fine and up to 1 year in jail.
A simple no-license stop usually falls at the lower end. More serious violations, such as fishing in a restricted area or exceeding bag limits, push penalties higher, and a conviction can suspend your hunting and fishing privileges for up to five years.11Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Laws, Penalties and Restitution Against a $40 all-water package, even the minimum fine makes fishing unlicensed a bad bet.