Bowfishing Laws in Texas: What You Can Shoot, Where You Can Go, and What You Need
June 11, 2026
Bowfishing in Texas is a fast-growing pursuit that blends archery skill with time on the water — and the Lone Star State gives you plenty of room to do it legally. With miles of rivers, massive reservoirs, and a sprawling Gulf coastline, Texas offers some of the best bowfishing opportunities in the country.
Before you string up your bow and head out, though, you need to understand exactly what the law allows. The rules cover which fish you can target, what gear is legal, where you can and cannot shoot, and what license you need in your pocket. This guide breaks down every key regulation so you can get on the water with confidence.
Pro Tip: Texas bowfishing regulations are governed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The current regulation cycle runs from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, per TPWD’s Outdoor Annual.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Texas
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations permit bowfishing in Texas coastal waters and in most rivers and large lakes. That said, the activity comes with a clear and non-negotiable boundary: lawful archery equipment includes longbows, recurved bows, compound bows, and crossbows — and may be used to take nongame fish only.
Game fish may be taken only by pole and line (which includes rod and reel), except as otherwise provided in the regulations guide. This means species like largemouth bass, striped bass, red drum, and spotted seatrout are completely off-limits to bowfishers. Targeting a game fish with archery equipment is a violation of state law, regardless of whether you intend to keep it.
Methods and devices not listed in the TPWD regulations are not legal for use in Texas. If you are ever unsure whether a specific technique or location is permitted, consult the TPWD Outdoor Annual or contact your local game warden before heading out.
Important Note: Bowfishing is a fishing activity in Texas, not a hunting activity. You do not need a hunting license to bowfish for fish — but you do need a valid fishing license. A hunting license is only required if you plan to take turtles or frogs with archery equipment.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Texas
Bows are legal for taking nongame fish such as gar, buffalo, mullet, and sheepshead. More broadly, a bow may be used to take any species of fish that is not listed as a game fish and not listed as an endangered or threatened species. This gives Texas bowfishers a wide range of targets across both fresh and salt water.
Some of the most popular freshwater targets include:
- All gar species (longnose, shortnose, spotted, and alligator gar)
- Common carp
- Bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo
- Freshwater drum
- Grass carp (subject to exotic species rules)
- Tilapia
The main bowfishing targets in Texas lakes are buffalo, carp, and gar. On the Texas coast, popular targets include rays, black drum, and flounder.
There are a few important bag limit exceptions to be aware of. No minimum lengths or daily bag limits apply to nongame fish in fresh water, except for alligator gar, which carries a statewide limit of one per day. On Falcon International Reservoir, however, the alligator gar limit is five per day.
Key Insight: Lady Bird Lake in Austin has a special rule for common carp. According to TPWD bowfishing regulations, there is a daily limit of one trophy-sized common carp measuring 33 inches or more. Always check water-body-specific rules before you go.
One critical rule applies across the board when using archery equipment: any fish that is edible or can be used for bait — including all gar species, common carp, and buffalo — may not be released back into the water after being taken with lawful archery equipment. Once you shoot it, you keep it. Wasting fish is a separate violation under TPWD’s Waste of Fish rule.
You should also be aware that endangered and threatened fish species are completely off-limits. It is unlawful to take or kill any endangered or threatened fish species, including paddlefish, shovel-nosed sturgeon, and sawfish.
Bowfishing License Requirements in Texas
A freshwater, saltwater, or all-water license package is required to bowfish in Texas public waters. No additional stamp or license is required. The license you need depends on where you plan to fish.
Any person who takes or attempts to take fish, mussels, clams, crayfish, or other aquatic life in the public waters of Texas must have a current Texas fishing license with the appropriate endorsement. A saltwater endorsement is required to fish in coastal waters; a freshwater endorsement is required for inland waters.
As of the 2025–2026 license year, resident annual licenses start at $30 for freshwater, $35 for saltwater, and $40 for all-water, with pricing set by TPWD and valid through August 31, 2026. Non-residents pay more: $58 for freshwater, $63 for saltwater, and $68 for all-water.
| License Type | Resident Fee | Non-Resident Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Package | $30 | $58 |
| Saltwater Package | $35 | $63 |
| All-Water Package | $40 | $68 |
In Texas, anyone age 17 or older must have a valid fishing license to fish in public waters, including rivers and lakes. This applies to both residents and non-residents. Anyone under 17 is exempt from the license requirement, regardless of residency.
Additional exemptions exist for certain groups. A Disabled Veteran Super Combo License is free for veterans with at least a 50% VA disability rating or service-related limb loss, available to both residents and non-residents. Active duty military residents on leave or stationed in Texas can obtain a free license, but must show a military ID and get it in person at licensed retailers or TPWD offices.
If you plan to bowfish for both fish and other wildlife on the same trip, keep in mind that a hunting license is required to take turtles and frogs, and you may elect to purchase a Combination or Super Combo license, which covers both fishing and hunting.
You can purchase a Texas fishing license online through the TPWD License Sales Portal, or in person at sporting goods stores, Walmart, and most bait shops across the state. You are also required to carry valid identification on the water — residents 17 years of age or older while fishing must have on their person a valid driver’s license or personal identification issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Texas
Fish may be taken with longbow, recurved bow, compound bow, or crossbow. These are the only bow types authorized under Texas law for taking fish. Any other projectile-based device not explicitly listed in TPWD regulations is not permitted.
Beyond the bow itself, standard bowfishing setups typically include a reel mounted to the bow, heavy-duty line, and a specialized bowfishing arrow. While TPWD does not prescribe specific arrow specifications for freshwater bowfishing the way some states do, your arrow must be attached to the bow by a line — this is a practical and near-universal requirement for retrieving fish and is standard across all legal bowfishing setups.
Pro Tip: Use a bowfishing arrow with a barbed point specifically designed for fish. Standard hunting broadheads are not designed for retrieval and can create legal and safety complications on the water.
Here is a summary of what is legal and what is not when it comes to bowfishing equipment in Texas:
| Equipment | Legal Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compound bow | Legal | Most common setup for bowfishing |
| Recurved bow | Legal | Traditional option, widely used |
| Longbow | Legal | Permitted under TPWD rules |
| Crossbow | Legal | Permitted under TPWD rules |
| Spear gun (underwater) | Legal for nongame fish | Only in fresh water; hand-operated, held underwater |
| Gig | Legal for nongame fish | Hand-held shaft with single or multiple points |
| Firearms | Illegal | Completely banned in all Texas waters |
| Explosives or poison | Illegal | Completely banned in all Texas waters |
Explosives, poison, or firearms are completely banned in all Texas waters. In fresh water, it is unlawful to take fish with a hand-operated device held underwater, except that a spear or spear gun may be used to take nongame fish.
If you are bowfishing from a boat — which is the most common approach — standard Texas boating laws apply. Make sure your vessel is properly registered, you carry the required safety equipment, and any lighting used at night meets Coast Guard and TPWD standards. You can learn more about other animal and outdoor activity laws in Texas that may affect your time on or near the water.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Texas
State regulations permit bowfishing in most public waters, subject to exceptions listed under Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations and Restricted Areas in Counties. That means the default answer for most Texas lakes, rivers, and reservoirs is yes — bowfishing is allowed. But there are meaningful exceptions you need to know.
Bowfishing is not allowed in Community Fishing Lakes (public impoundments of 75 acres or less located within a city or public park), in lakes lying totally within the boundaries of a Texas state park, or anywhere on state park property.
Specific water bodies where bowfishing is restricted or prohibited include:
- Community Fishing Lakes; sections of rivers lying totally within state park boundaries; the North Concho River from O.C. Fisher Dam to the Bell Street Dam; the South Concho River from Lone Wolf Dam to Bell Street Dam; Wheeler Branch Reservoir; Lake Pflugerville; Brushy Creek Lake; Canyon Lake Project #6; and state park lakes including Abilene, Cleburne, Elm, Fort Parker, Mineral Wells, Pilant, Purtis Creek, Raven, Sheldon, and Tucker.
The Lower Colorado River Authority prohibits bowfishing in Bastrop and Fayette County lakes and enforces special regulations on bowfishing in other Central Texas reservoirs. For details, visit the LCRA website.
Popular lakes where bowfishing is generally permitted include major reservoirs across the state. North Texas lakes that allow bowfishing include Lake Worth, Ray Roberts Lake, Lake Granbury, and Possum Kingdom Lake. In south Texas, Lake Amistad, Lake Falcon, and Lake Medina also offer many bowfishing opportunities.
Important Note: Other government entities — including city governments, county parks, and water authorities — may have their own rules restricting bowfishing on properties they own or manage. TPWD is aware of some of these restrictions, but there may be others. When fishing within city limits or at any lakeside park, it is a good idea to check first with local authorities.
Private land access is another consideration. Some ponds and lakes are on private property. Always get permission before fishing, and respect landowner rights. Texas takes trespassing seriously. For more on how Texas law handles property and animal-related issues, see this overview of neighbor and property laws in Texas.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Texas
Night bowfishing is one of the most popular ways to pursue gar, carp, and buffalo in Texas — and the good news is that it is generally legal under state law. TPWD does not impose a statewide prohibition on bowfishing after dark. The same rules that apply during the day apply at night: nongame fish only, valid fishing license required, and no bowfishing in restricted water bodies.
That said, there are several practical and legal considerations that make night bowfishing different from daytime outings.
Lighting requirements: Most night bowfishing is done from a boat with elevated lights or floodlights that illuminate the water and allow you to spot fish near the surface. Texas law does not specifically restrict the use of lights for bowfishing, but your vessel must still comply with all standard navigation lighting rules under state and federal boating regulations. Running lights must be operational when operating a motorized vessel after dark.
Local ordinances: Bowfishers are advised to check with local authorities that may have ordinances restricting the use of archery equipment. Some municipalities and county parks have noise ordinances or rules about boat lighting or shooting within certain distances of shorelines, docks, or residential areas. Always check local rules before organizing a night outing in or near a populated area.
Restricted water bodies still apply: The nighttime exemption does not override location-based restrictions. Community Fishing Lakes, state park lakes, and LCRA-managed reservoirs that prohibit bowfishing are off-limits day and night.
Pro Tip: Alligator gar are highly active at night and are one of the most sought-after night bowfishing targets in Texas. Remember the statewide one-per-day bag limit applies regardless of whether you are fishing during the day or after dark.
Night bowfishing tournaments are common in Texas and are generally legal, but tournament organizers should verify that the specific water body and local jurisdiction allow the activity. For reference on how Texas handles other outdoor and animal-related regulations at the local level, you can review Dallas-area animal laws as an example of how local rules can differ from statewide standards.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Texas
Texas has a long Gulf coastline and a network of bays, estuaries, and tidal rivers that offer excellent saltwater bowfishing. TPWD regulations permit bowfishing in Texas coastal waters. The same core rule applies in salt water as in fresh: you may only take nongame fish with archery equipment.
To bowfish in coastal waters, a Texas saltwater fishing license with a saltwater endorsement is required. If you plan to bowfish in both fresh and saltwater environments during the same season, an all-water package is the most practical option.
Popular saltwater bowfishing targets in Texas include:
- Stingrays and other ray species
- Mullet
- Sheepshead
- Black drum (where not classified as a game fish in specific waters)
- Flounder (check current bag and size limits)
Limits exist on some nongame fish in salt water. This is an important distinction from freshwater rules, where most nongame species have no bag limit. Before targeting any saltwater species with a bow, check the TPWD saltwater bag and length limits to confirm the species you are targeting has no protective limit that would restrict take by bow.
Common Mistake: Many bowfishers assume that any fish they can see in a saltwater flat is fair game. In Texas coastal waters, several species that are technically nongame fish still carry bag limits or size restrictions. Confirm the status of your target species before you shoot.
Protected marine species are strictly off-limits. Species found in the Gulf of America include Green, Loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, Leatherback, and Hawksbill sea turtles. If you accidentally catch a sea turtle, immediately call (866) 887-8535 for information on how to help without injuring yourself or causing further injury to the animal. It is also unlawful to take or kill diamondback terrapin or marine mammals such as porpoises, dolphins, or whales.
Red drum (redfish) and spotted seatrout are among the most iconic Texas coastal game fish — and both are completely off-limits to bowfishers. Red drum, spotted seatrout, and sharks caught on any device may not be retained or possessed outside of legal methods. Sharks are also protected from bowfishing take in Texas coastal waters.
For those fishing near the Texas-Mexico border or in waters adjacent to federal zones, additional federal rules may apply. Portions of the Rio Grande adjacent to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area are designated as a Wild and Scenic River, and special federal rules apply to fishing, boating, and other uses in these areas.
Saltwater bowfishing from a boat near the coast also puts you in proximity to other anglers, swimmers, and recreational boaters. Always identify your target clearly, be aware of what is beyond it, and follow safe archery practices on the water. For more on Texas-specific outdoor and animal laws, explore related guides on topics like roadkill laws in Texas, feral cat laws in Texas, and exotic pet laws across the United States.
Bowfishing in Texas rewards anglers who take the time to understand the rules. Know your target species, carry the right license, stay out of restricted waters, and respect the waste-of-fish rule — and you will have a legal, productive, and enjoyable time on Texas waters. When in doubt, the TPWD Bow Fishing Regulations page and the TPWD Outdoor Annual are your most reliable sources for current rules.