54 public waters in the Gulf Coast & Houston region — 22 lakes/reservoirs and 32 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.
Cooling Water Reservoir sprawls across nearly 7,000 acres in Matagorda County along the Gulf Coast, offering largemouth bass and the unique saltwater-influenced gafftopsail sea catfish fishery. The reservoir's size and coastal location create a distinctive angling environment rarely found elsewhere in Central Texas.
Travis and Matagorda Counties, Texas — Lake Austin is a 4,152-acre lake, managed by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: 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.
Cedar Lakes Lake (2,315 acres) sits in Brazoria and Matagorda 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.
Big Lake, a 1,383-acre lake in Reagan, Matagorda, Anderson and 3 more counties in Texas, managed by Unknown: A High Plains reservoir — one of the few Texas Walleye fisheries, with Smallmouth Bass on the rock, Wiper and White Bass in the open water, and Channel Catfish.
In Matagorda County, Texas, Bay City Lake is a 1,290-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.
Cedar Lakes, a 938-acre lake in Matagorda 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Mad Island Lake is a 862-acre lake, managed by Non-Governmental Organization: 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.
Brazoria, Fort Bend, Liberty and 3 more counties in Texas — Horseshoe Lake is a 745-acre lake, managed by Private: 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Crab Lake is a 205-acre lake, managed by State Fish and Wildlife: 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.
Dead Caney Lake, a 171-acre lake in Matagorda County, 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Lake Kilbride is a 150-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.
Jennings Lake, a 141-acre lake in Matagorda County, Texas, managed by Non-Governmental Organization: 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Pelton Lake is a 128-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.
Donaldson Lake (122 acres) sits in Matagorda 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Mine Lake 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.
East Reservoir (84 acres) sits in Matagorda 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.
Shoe Sugar Pond (65 acres) sits in Matagorda 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Boggy Lake is a 52-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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Williams Lake is a 52-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.
McNab Lake, a 50-acre lake in Matagorda 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.
Robbins Lake (50 acres) sits in Matagorda 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.
Gottschalk Lake, a 30-acre lake in Matagorda 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.
Colorado River (509 km) flows through Colorado, Bastrop, Fayette and 3 more counties in Texas. A major Texas river — a trophy blue and Flathead Catfish fishery, white and Hybrid Striped Bass below the dams, largemouth in the oxbows, and Alligator Gar on the sandbars.
Caney Creek (278 km) flows through Matagorda and Wharton 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.
Linnville Bayou River runs 49 km through Matagorda and Brazoria 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 Wharton and Matagorda Counties, Texas, Tres Palacios River is a 58 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.
Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas — Dance Bayou River is a 22 km stream: 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.
Big Boggy Creek runs 39 km through Matagorda County, 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.
Little Linnville Bayou River runs 21 km through Brazoria and Matagorda 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 Wharton and Matagorda Counties, Texas, Blue Creek is a 43 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.
In Matagorda, Wharton and Jackson Counties, Texas, East Carancahua Creek is a 63 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.
Cottonwood Creek runs 23 km through Matagorda County, 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.
Cocklebur Slough River (18 km) flows through Brazoria and Matagorda 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 Matagorda County, Texas, Wilson Creek is a 26 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.
Hardeman Slough River (16 km) flows through Matagorda County, 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 Wharton and Matagorda Counties, Texas, Water Hole Creek is a 23 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.
Canoe Bayou River (16 km) flows through Matagorda County, 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 Matagorda County, Texas, Boggy Bayou River 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.
Wildcat Slough River runs 14 km through Matagorda County, 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 Matagorda County, Texas, Bucks Bayou River is a 15 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.
Live Oak Bayou River runs 12 km through Matagorda County, 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 Wharton and Matagorda Counties, Texas, Moccasin Creek is a 15 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.
In Matagorda and Wharton Counties, Texas, Juanita Creek is a 13 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.
Snead Slough River runs 10 km through Matagorda County, 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.
Dead Slough River runs 8 km through Matagorda County, 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.
Cedar Lake Creek runs 38 km through Brazoria and Matagorda 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.
Matagorda County, Texas — Johnsons Timber Slough River is a 8 km stream: 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 Matagorda County, Texas, Boggy Bayou is a 24 km river or creek. 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.
Peyton Creek runs 44 km through Matagorda County, Texas: 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 Matagorda County, Texas, Live Oak Bayou is a 57 km river or creek. 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.
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.
Tres Palacios River= runs 28 km through Matagorda and Wharton Counties, Texas: 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.
Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, Texas — Linnville Bayou is a 63 km stream: 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.
Cashs Creek runs 22 km through Matagorda County, Texas: 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.
Across its mapped waters, Matagorda County holds 29 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Common Carp 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.