Texas Fishing: Meet the Amazing 5 of Texas

Texas boasts the most enticing angling in the United States and beyond, thanks to its lakes, rivers, and over 360 miles of coastline. It is a no-brainer how Texans love to fish, and they are fortunate to have access to various water bodies and are blessed to be situated next to the fantastic coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. The fishing season in Texas is year-round, another reason why many anglers decide to travel and cast their line in Texan waters. Anglers looking for a top-of-the-game fishing experience can visit Texas and try fishing in salt and fresh water areas in the state.

Anyone who wants to experience angling in Texas’ public waters must get a Texas fishing license. It is also vital to check the water, tides, weather forecasts heading out to fish. Checking Texas’ daily limits for catches and bags for particular species is vital when fishing in the state.

The five unique and strange fish can be caught on the Texas coast from the famous Texas trophy bass fishing.

5 Amazing Fish Found in Texas

1. Guitarfish 

Guitarfish are fish species closely related to rays. Guitarfish have a body form similar to those of sharks and rays. Its tail has a typical shark-like shape, but the head has a triangular or guitar-like shape formed by fusion with the pectoral fins seen in other rays. Guitarfish swims by moving its tail from side to side like a shark. Guitarfish may grow to 6 feet. They live in tropical and warm temperate waters. They are bottom-feeders and bury themselves in the mud or sand to target worms, crabs, clams, and the likes. They also prefer the shallow parts of the water to prey on small fishes. Guitarfish are ovoviviparous. Their spawn once a year during the warmer months of the summer season, starting in June. Their newborns are already fully developed and about 8 inches long. They are best caught during the summer season. Fly fishing is the common fishing technique anglers use when fishing for guitarfish. 

2. Sea robin

Sea robin, also called gurnard, are decorated fish with hard bony head coverings, large pectoral fins, long pointy spines used for self-defense, and short bodies. Its birdly name was derived from the way it swims, spreading its long pectoral fins that resemble a bird's wings and almost appearing like it is walking or flying on the bottom of the sea. Sea robin are closely related to other flying fish found worldwide. They can produce a grunting sound similar to a croaking frog by hitting muscles against their swim bladder. Sea robin caught in Texas bays can grow from 8 to 14 inches. In Texas, more than ten species of sea robin are located along the Texas Gulf Coast, but the most commonly caught are the bighead sea robin. Sea robin are bottom feeders that prey on squid, clams, shrimp, crab, crustaceans, and worms. Their spawning transpires from late spring through early fall, peaking in July and August. The best season to fish for sea robin is between the warmer months between May and October. Flounder fishing rigs are the best used to catch sea robin.

3. Gulf toadfish

Gulf toadfish, also called Orange toadfish, belong to Batrachoididae's family. They have dark brown bars on their caudal and pectoral fins. Gulf toadfish have a slimy coating on their body that causes physical irritation to humans. They are not considered game fish due to their meat taste but are sought after by anglers because of catching them. They are called toadfish because they produce a toad-like grunt. They are found inshore around bridges and structures such as pilings. Gulf toadfish are also found in seagrass beds, sometimes partly buried under a rock, in lagoons, and the sands of shallow coastal bays. They can grow up to a maximum size of about 12.8 inches in length and weigh one to three pounds. Gulf toadfish prefer to swim in the shallow areas near baitfish inhabitants. Gulf toadfish are opportunistic bottom-feeders that eat small fishes like gobies, crustaceans, mollusks, and annelids. They spawn in February and March when the water temperature rises. Gulf toadfish whistle to attract mates. They are ready to be caught year-round.

4. Bigmouth goby

Bigmouth goby, also known as bigmouth sleeper, are fish species good at camouflaging and are commonly found across the southern Texas coast. They have a long, torpedo-shaped body with a large, flat head. They possess a huge mouth - hence the name "bigmouth." They are dubbed as one of the largest gobies in the world, as they can reach over two feet in length. They are piscivorous and bottom-dwelling fish that lives in freshwater and target other fish, squid, mussels, cockles, krill, and live invertebrates. Bigmouth goby spawning season take place during the summer months. Fishing for bigmouth goby is open year-round. Anglers often use light tackle fishing techniques to catch these fish.

5. Mola

Mola, or ocean sunfish, are very strange-looking fish that have no resemblance to freshwater sunfish and barely look like a fish at all. Mola lacks a fishtail and frequently looks like a piece of floating debris. They have a bullet-shaped appearance, with a short body that ends in a thick rudder-like structure called a clavus located behind its tall triangular dorsal and anal fins. Their back fins never grow; instead, it folds as the fish matures. Mola have silvery-colored rough skin. They are the heaviest of all the bony fish, with large mola reaching 14 feet vertically and 10 feet horizontally, and can weigh up to nearly 5,000 pounds. They are commonly caught offshore but are also seen in the open water. Mola love to bask under the sun, and this behavior is said to be the fish's method of "heat recharging" before diving into the deep, cold waters to feed. Mola's diet consist of jellyfish, devouring small fish, and vast amounts of zooplankton and algae. The spawning practice of mola is still obscure. Mola fishing season is open all year.