Before preparing yourself for your upcoming fishing trip, you need to have a fishing license. So, how much is a fishing license in Texas? Like other states, the fishing license in Texas comes with varying prices. That’s because of the different types of licenses available for fishing.
On average, fishing licenses in Texas can cost you anywhere between $35 and $45. The price is cheaper than that of other states. Also, the price relies on the package that you choose from. If you want to know how much it will cost for each license and where to find them, continue reading the post.
How much does it cost to buy a fishing license in Texas?
As said, the cost of fishing licenses depends on the type of license that you want to buy and whether you are a resident of Texas or not. On average, you can buy licenses from $35 to $45. Besides, the fishing license in Texas is categorized into the following.
Types of water – Freshwater, saltwater, and all water fishing licenses
Residential status of the applicant – Resident or non-resident
License duration – Lifetime license, a year from purchase license, end of the license year, or one-day license
Apart from the fishing licenses, you need to obtain freshwater or saltwater endorsement as well. You may need them when you make plans for fishing or even taking mussels, crayfish, clams, fish, or other aquatic creatures in the public waters in Texas. To make things easy for your understanding, the following sections will discuss the cost of fishing licenses that you can have in Texas.
Freshwater fishing licenses:
Senior, non-resident, and resident freshwater fishing licenses are needed in Texas alongside freshwater fishing endorsement. These kinds of licenses remain valid from the date you purchased until 31st August of the same year.
- Freshwater fishing endorsement – Costs about $5
- Senior resident freshwater fishing license – Costs about $12
- Non-resident freshwater fishing license – Costs about $58
- Resident freshwater fishing license – Costs about $30
If you are a resident of Texas, you can purchase a freshwater fishing license along with a hunting license as well. It’s called a combo package that costs $16 for seniors and $50 for regular people.
Saltwater fishing licenses:
Senior, non-resident, and resident saltwater fishing licenses are needed alongside saltwater fishing endorsement. These kinds of licenses stay valid from the date you bought them until August 31 of the same year.
- Senior resident saltwater fishing license – Costs about $17
- Non-resident saltwater fishing license – Costs about $63
- Resident saltwater fishing license – Costs about $35
- Saltwater fishing endorsement – Costs about $10
For the residents of Texas, they can buy a combo package of hunting and saltwater fishing license for $55. If the citizen is a senior, it would cost around $21.
All water fishing licenses:
For this kind of fishing license, you don’t have to purchase an endorsement. Check out the list below on the prices.
- Senior all-water fishing license – Costs about $22
- Non-resident all water fishing license for one day – Costs about $16
- Non-resident all-water fishing license – Costs about $68
- Resident all water fishing license for one day – Costs about $11
- Resident all water fishing license – Costs about $40
- Resident all water year from purchase license – Costs about $47
A one-day fishing license regardless of a non-resident or a resident grants you the license intended for the selected day or the purchased day. However, if you want to keep your fishing license remain valid for several days, you can purchase many one-day fishing licenses at a time.
What are the criteria to obtain a fishing license in Texas?
If you are 16 years or even older and want to fish in Texas’s public water, you need to have a valid license or you should buy one. In addition, you have to buy a saltwater or freshwater endorsement if you are thinking about taking fish from public saltwater or even freshwater in Texas. However, residents don’t need the license if they meet any one of the following criteria.
- They were born before January 1, 1931
- People are fishing in private waters
- They are fishing on the free fishing day in Texas
- They are disabled and are fishing under supervision
Where to buy the license from:
Texas fishing licenses are available online through the official website of Texas Parks & Wildlife. Also, you can visit the nearest fishing license vendor approved by the government department or can call (800) 895-4248.