The fish were biting, and — for the most part — the mosquitos weren’t, on Saturday, as young anglers gathered for the annual Fishing Derby hosted by the City of San Angelo Recreation Department.
The event offered prizes for the most-fish-caught in three age divisions, and prizes for the three largest fish overall.
The event coincides with Texas Parks and Wildlife’s free fishing day, and there were plenty of fish to catch, thanks to the Inland Fisheries Division, who stocked that stretch of the river just ahead of the event.
To learn more about offerings from the San Angelo Recreation Dept., call 325-657-4450 or visit the website.
Fishing Local Waters
For folks who are new to the area, San Angelo has a few special rules, outlined in the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Outdoor Annual, for gear restrictions in two locations.
For the South Concho River, from Lone Wolf dam to Bell St. dam, and on the North Concho from O.C. Fisher dam to Bell St., fishing is by pole-and-line only, and anglers may use no more than two poles while fishing.
Daily bag limit for both waterways is 5 fish (all species combined), of which only 1 may be a black bass. No minimum length limits, except black bass, which must be 14-inches or greater in length.
Don’t Get a Ticket
Adults in Texas who want to catch a fish need a license, and the fines for fishing without a license are fairly steep.
In Texas, generally, a license is required for anyone 17-years of age and older fishing the public waters.
There are exceptions for private property, individuals with a valid fishing-guide license, anyone born before Sept.1, 1930, or the developmentally challenged.
This applies to “any person who takes, or attempts to take, fish, mussels, clams, crayfish or other aquatic life from the public waters of Texas.”
How Much is ‘Too Much’ in Texas?
In Texas, freshwater fishermen can have a maximum of 100 hooks on all their fishing devices combined. This includes trotlines, juglines, and other legal devices. Specifically, trotlines can have up to 50 hooks. Juglines are limited to five hooks or less.
Know the Rules
It doesn’t hurt to take a trip through the rules and regulations governing your preferred fishing methods and the places you fish.
You can read all about them here, on the TPWD website, or download the Outdoor Annual app on your phone.
