Sonnyblue
- Thread starter SonnyBlue
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Guba
Contributor
I may be showing my ignorance here, but I believe it's illegal to spearfish catfish in Texas. Non-game fish such as shad, drum, gar, buffalo, etc...may be spearfished (with a valid fishing license), but I think catfish are considered game and are, thus, off limits.
Jay_SMART_Diver
Contributor
Guba is right:
From the TPW Website
Legal Freshwater and Saltwater Devices and Restrictions for Fish
Only devices and restrictions listed may be used to take or attempt to take aquatic life.
Game fish may be taken only by pole and line (which includes rod and reel), except as otherwise provided in this guide.
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.
Game Fish (includes hybrids or subspecies of fish on this list):
•Bass: Guadalupe, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, striped, white, yellow
•Catfish: blue, channel, flathead
•Cobia
•Crappie: black, white
•Mackerel: king, Spanish
•Marlin: blue, white
•Pickerel
•Red drum
•Sailfish
•Sauger
•Seatrout, spotted
•Sharks
•Snook
•Spearfish, longbill
•Swordfish, broadbill
•Tarpon
•Tripletail
•Trout: brown, rainbow
•Wahoo
•Walleye
From the TPW Website
Legal Freshwater and Saltwater Devices and Restrictions for Fish
Only devices and restrictions listed may be used to take or attempt to take aquatic life.
Game fish may be taken only by pole and line (which includes rod and reel), except as otherwise provided in this guide.
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.
Game Fish (includes hybrids or subspecies of fish on this list):
•Bass: Guadalupe, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, striped, white, yellow
•Catfish: blue, channel, flathead
•Cobia
•Crappie: black, white
•Mackerel: king, Spanish
•Marlin: blue, white
•Pickerel
•Red drum
•Sailfish
•Sauger
•Seatrout, spotted
•Sharks
•Snook
•Spearfish, longbill
•Swordfish, broadbill
•Tarpon
•Tripletail
•Trout: brown, rainbow
•Wahoo
•Walleye
Bill Parker
Contributor
This is insane. There are too many rules.
Last edited:
FIXXERVI6
Contributor
looks like you could still noodle on scuba tho?
Last time I dove it, we were in Louisana most of the time....
I think the law is you have to have the license of the state if your fishing from the shore. You might check the laws of having a Louisana license if you are spearfishing. I've seen a lot of good sized cats about 3-500 yards from the dam in the 15-25 ffw depths, with viz about 5-10 ft. I think you have to stay 200 or more ft from the dam. Catfish seemed to spook quicker than the other game fish. Do a quick search on spearfishing on Toledo Bend.
dive safe and watch the weather for winds blowing up!
~tony
I think the law is you have to have the license of the state if your fishing from the shore. You might check the laws of having a Louisana license if you are spearfishing. I've seen a lot of good sized cats about 3-500 yards from the dam in the 15-25 ffw depths, with viz about 5-10 ft. I think you have to stay 200 or more ft from the dam. Catfish seemed to spook quicker than the other game fish. Do a quick search on spearfishing on Toledo Bend.
dive safe and watch the weather for winds blowing up!
~tony
Timeliner
Contributor
nope ... you don't get to use the spear gun on catfish in Texas 
On the other hand...
My spear gun works great in the backyard on the Squirrels.
Once you hit 'em they can't run away ' cause of the cord attached to the spear
On the other hand...
My spear gun works great in the backyard on the Squirrels.
Once you hit 'em they can't run away ' cause of the cord attached to the spear
Guba
Contributor
Frank, I would be willing to bet that your neighbors give you extremely wary looks.
(I'm just picturing you sitting in a yard lounger with a cold one at your side, your banjo, and a speargun...)
(I'm just picturing you sitting in a yard lounger with a cold one at your side, your banjo, and a speargun...)
My spear gun works great in the backyard on the Squirrels.
Once you hit 'em they can't run away ' cause of the cord attached to the spear
This is the guy that has my back on a lot of dives..... (cue banjo music) :cool2:
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