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Fish consumption advisories

Texas

Texas publishes advisories for 45 waters, covering 443 species-and-size recommendations.

Contaminants of concern: Dioxins, Mercury, PCBs, Pesticides

Statewide advisory

These apply across Texas, including waters with no specific advisory of their own.

  • Blackfin Tuna Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Blackfin Tuna Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Blackfin Tuna Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Blue Marlin Adults and children 12 and older Do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Blue Marlin Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Blue Marlin Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Crevalle Jack Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Crevalle Jack Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Crevalle Jack Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • King Mackerel Over 35" Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • King Mackerel Under 35" Adults and children 12 and older Limit to one meal per week due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • King Mackerel Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • King Mackerel Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Little Tunny Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Little Tunny Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Little Tunny Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Shark Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Shark Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Shark Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Swordfish Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Swordfish Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Swordfish Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Wahoo Adults and children 12 and older Limit to two meals per month due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Wahoo Women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing For women of childbearing age, pregnant or nursing: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)
  • Wahoo Children under 12 For children under 12: do not eat due to elevated Mercury. Texas coastal waters (statewide)

Waters with advisories in Texas

45 waters on file. A water not listed here has no advisory in the state's data — which usually means it has never been sampled, not that it's been cleared.

Coastals 8

Lakes 13

Reservoirs 10

Rivers 14

Browse Texas by county

Every named water in the state, county by county — including the many with no advisory on file.

Texas statewide fishing limits

Statewide defaults — specific waters and zones may differ. Verify the current rules before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Largemouth Bass 14" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Smallmouth Bass 14" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Spotted Bass — 5 Year-round Same as open
Guadalupe Bass — 5 Year-round Same as open
Alabama Bass — 5 Year-round Same as open
Striped Bass 18" min 5 Year-round Same as open
Hybrid Striped Bass 18" min 5 Year-round Same as open
White Bass 10" min 25 Year-round Same as open
Yellow Bass — — Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish — 25 Year-round Same as open
Blue Catfish — 25 Year-round Same as open
Flathead Catfish 18" min 5 Year-round Same as open
White Crappie 10" min 25 Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie 10" min 25 Year-round Same as open
Alligator Gar — 1 Year-round Same as open
Paddlefish — 0 Year-round Same as open
Saugeye — 5 Year-round Same as open
Gizzard Shad — — Year-round Same as open
Threadfin Shad — — Year-round Same as open
Bluegill — — Year-round Same as open
Redear Sunfish — — Year-round Same as open
Green Sunfish — — Year-round Same as open
Warmouth — — Year-round Same as open
Longear Sunfish — — Year-round Same as open
Rainbow Trout — 5 Year-round Same as open
Brown Trout — 5 Year-round Same as open
Walleye — 5 Year-round Same as open

Official rules: Texas — Texas TPWD

Where this comes from

Advisories
Texas Parks & Wildlife / DSHS — Fish Consumption Bans & Advisories
Regulations
Texas — Texas TPWD
All sources
Every state's official source