15 public waters in the South Texas & Rio Grande region — 11 lakes/reservoirs and 4 rivers. Every one is fishable on a Texas licence.
See every public fishing venue in Texas on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
A shallow, grass-flat and oyster-reef bay near Rockport on the central Texas coast, popular for inshore wade and boat fishing. TPWD weekly reports regularly note trout taken on live shrimp/croaker over the bay's reefs, with black drum and sheepshead common around channels and pilings; occasional tarpon and shark also show up.
A premier Texas Gulf Coast bay system near Port Aransas/Rockport known for redfish and speckled trout sight-fishing over its oyster reefs, with both species fishing well year-round and peaking in fall/winter as fish move into the shallows.
Saint Charles Bay is part of the Aransas Bay complex adjacent to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, winter home of the endangered whooping crane, whose population has recovered from just 15 birds in 1900 to over 180 today. The refuge's fishery managers have removed thousands of derelict crab traps from the bay specifically to protect blue crabs, a critical whooping crane food source, while seagrass beds provide prime spawning habitat for redfish, black drum and speckled trout.
This 4,566-acre Aransas County estuary is a classic South Texas redfish and spotted seatrout destination, with excellent flats and shallow-water sight-fishing opportunities. Black drum, flounder, and sheepshead add variety to the year-round bite, making Port Bay a versatile choice for both wade and boat anglers along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Vinson Slough (667 acres) sits in Aransas County, Texas, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Refugio and Aransas Counties, Texas, Long Lake is a 416-acre lake, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A Texas bass reservoir — Largemouth Bass the headline (Texas runs the ShareLunker program for 13 lb-plus fish), with white and Hybrid Striped Bass schooling the open water and a big-three Catfish fishery (channel, blue, flathead) plus slab Crappie.
Burgentine Lake, a 377-acre lake in Aransas County, Texas, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: A Rio Grande border reservoir — a legendary big-largemouth fishery, white and Striped Bass, channel and Blue Catfish, and Alligator Gar. A Texas licence covers the whole US side.
Fresh Water Lake, a 292-acre lake in Brazoria, Aransas and San Patricio Counties, Texas, managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: A Texas bass reservoir — Largemouth Bass the headline (Texas runs the ShareLunker program for 13 lb-plus fish), with white and Hybrid Striped Bass schooling the open water and a big-three Catfish fishery (channel, blue, flathead) plus slab Crappie.
In Aransas County, Texas, Tailing Ponds Number 3 is a 202-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Aransas County, Texas — Mustang Slough is a 102-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Aransas County, Texas, Thomas Pond is a 18-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Public lakes and reservoirs in this part of the country typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel, blue and flathead catfish, black and white crappie, and bluegill and other sunfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Copano Creek (50 km) flows through Refugio and Aransas Counties, Texas. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
Salt Creek runs 14 km through Refugio and Aransas Counties, Texas: A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
In Aransas and Refugio Counties, Texas, Cavasso Creek is a 16 km river or creek. A Texas river — largemouth, Guadalupe and Spotted Bass in the current, Panfish and Rio Grande Cichlid around the structure, channel and Flathead Catfish in the holes, and Gar on the flats.
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway runs the length of the Texas coast and is prime brackish-water fishing -- redfish are the standout target, tailing in shallow flats along the edges, with spotted seatrout, black drum, flounder and sheepshead (around pilings and posts) all regular catches. A Texas saltwater fishing license/endorsement is required.
Across its mapped waters, Aransas County holds 29 species on PiscaMaps, including Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Blue Catfish and Black Crappie.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Texas map Join PiscaMapsOne Texas fishing licence covers every public water in the state. Resident annual is about $34, non-resident about $50, with 3-day and 10-day non-resident permits available. TPWD agency lakes and the Beech River lakes need an extra lake permit. Buy at gooutdoorstexas.com.