Story from TPWD
Proposed freshwater fishing regulations for 2020-2021
The proposed changes include modifying harvest regulations and gear restrictions at five water bodies located in Cooke, Williamson, Tom Green, Grayson and Starr/Zapata counties.
TPWD will be taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2020-2021 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing Proclamation, with input to be considered before any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 26 public hearing:
- Moss Lake (Cooke County) – Modify the 14-inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass to a 16-inch maximum length limit
- Brushy Creek Lake and Brushy Creek (Williamson County) – Modify harvest regulations for Brushy Creek Lake by changing from an 18-inch minimum length to the statewide 14-inch limit for largemouth bass. On the section of Brushy Creek downstream from the lake to the Williamson/Milam County line, reduce blue and channel catfish daily bag limit from 25 to 5 fish and remove the 12-inch minimum length limit, and add gear restrictions (pole and line angling only and anglers limited to two poles)
- Lake Nasworthy (Tom Green County) – Modify harvest regulations for black and white crappie by removing the current 10-inch minimum length limit
- Lake Texoma and the Texas waters of the Red River below Denison Dam (Cooke and Grayson Counties) – Standardize harvest regulations for blue, channel, and flathead catfish in the Texas and Oklahoma waters of Lake Texoma and on the Red River below Lake Texoma. In Lake Texoma, remove the 12-inch minimum length limit for blue and channel catfish, and for flathead catfish, remove the 18-inch minimum length limit. In the Texas waters of the Red River below Lake Texoma (from Denison Dam downstream to Shawnee Creek), in addition to the removal of the minimum length limits for catfish, reduce the daily bag limit for blue and channel catfish from 25 to 15 fish.
- Falcon International Reservoir (Starr and Zapata Counties) — Continue the five fish daily bag limit for alligator gar. This regulation was designated for review and possible continuation during this year.
Proposed saltwater fishing regulations for 2020-2021
These changes are focused on the recreational and commercial flounder fishery and paddle craft licenses.
TPWD will be taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2020-2021 Statewide Recreational Fishing Proclamation, with input to be considered before any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 26 public hearing:
- Increasing the minimum size limit for flounder to 15”
- Closing all flounder fishing from Nov. 1 to Dec 15.
- Changing the course requirements to include a paddle craft leading course from the American Canoe Association or another TPWD approved course.
Proposed hunting regulations for 2020-2021
The proposed changes include amending definitions, application requirements and conditions for pronghorn and antlerless mule deer permits; and specifying season dates and bag limits for the 2020-2021 migratory game bird seasons.
TPWD will be taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2020-2021 Statewide Recreational Hunting Proclamation, with input to be considered before any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 26 public hearing:
- Implement rules to administer an automated process for the application and issuance of pronghorn and antlerless mule deer permits
- Establish seasons and bag limits for the take of migratory game birds for 2020-21
- Decrease the daily bag limit for scaup from three to one in all zones
- Decrease the daily bag limit for light goose daily bag limit from twenty to ten during the regular season in both zones
- Shift goose seasons (and light goose conservation season) in the Western Zone one week later than in previous years
- Shift snipe hunting season dates two weeks later than in previous years
Ways to comment
Facebook Live Webinar: TPWD staff will present proposed hunting regulation changes and answer questions in a Facebook Live webinar at noon Feb. 28 on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Facebook page.
Online: Once the proposed regulations are published in the Texas Register, comments on the changes can be provided on the TPWD public comment page until March 25.
In writing: To TPWD, attn. Hunting Regulations Public Comment, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, TX 78744.
Phone or Email: Comments on the proposed pronghorn and antlerless mule deer permit changes may be submitted to Mitch Lockwood at 830-792-9677, email: mitch.lockwood@tpwd.texas.gov. Comments on the proposed migratory game bird changes may be submitted to Shaun Oldenburger at 512-389-4778, email: shaun.oldenburger@tpwd.texas.gov.
In person: The TPW Commission will take public comment on the proposed changes at their meeting on Thursday, March 26 in Austin. Public testimony will normally be limited to three minutes per person.
