During the past two decades, the Texas Freshwater Fish Stamp has helped fund the production
of more than half a billion fish, including catfish, for stocking in Lone Star State waters.
Freshwater Fish Stamp Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Texas stamp has greatly enhanced conservation efforts and hatchery improvements.
For two decades, the Texas Freshwater Fish Stamp has transformed the state’s freshwater fisheries management, driving advancements in habitat, fish hatcheries, and angler access across Texas.
Created by the Texas Legislature in 2004, the Freshwater Fish Stamp has raised over $130 million to support Texas freshwater fish hatcheries, enabling the construction and renovation of these critical facilities and enhancing public angling opportunities. With the $5 stamp included in every freshwater fishing license, funds have powered state-led conservation efforts from maintaining hatchery operations to upgrading fish habitats in Texas public waters.
Replacing the earlier $7 Freshwater Trout Stamp, which from 1985-2003 supported winter trout stocking with fish from out-of-state hatcheries, the Freshwater Fish Stamp sustains Texas’ own hatchery system while still stocking trout for the winter fishing season. This shift has allowed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to focus resources on in-state hatcheries, benefiting native fish populations and anglers alike.
Thanks to these funds, TPWD has bolstered fish hatchery infrastructure statewide, enhancing all five of Texas’ hatcheries to improve fish production. Facility upgrades have included advanced water treatment systems, new water intake installations, pond liner replacements, and expanded facilities for spawning, nursery, and grow-out operations. Over the past 20 years, Texas hatcheries have stocked over half a billion fish in more than a thousand water bodies across the state.
Among the key projects funded by the stamp was the construction of the John D. Parker East Texas Fish Hatchery, a modern replacement for the Jasper State Fish Hatchery. Drawing from Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the facility has since produced and stocked 37.5 million fish in Texas waters.
“The Freshwater Fish Stamp is essential to supporting recreational and economic fisheries across Texas,” said Tim Birdsong, Director of TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division. “With 4.1 million anglers in Texas spending $11.1 billion annually on fishing, the stamp enables TPWD to sustain hatcheries for species like striped bass, hybrid bass and rainbow trout.”
In addition to fish hatchery improvements, Fish Stamp funding supports programs like ShareLunker and Neighborhood Fishin’, as well as HAAP, the Habitat and Angler Access Program, launched in 2021 to improve shoreline access and fish habitat. HAAP has funded 32 projects since 2023, with support from freshwater license sales and partner matching funds totaling over $1.9 million.
The Fish Stamp has also sparked two important legislative changes: in 2011, anglers extended its life beyond the initial sunset period, and in 2017, expanded its use to include habitat restoration and angler access projects.
With the backing of Texas freshwater anglers, the Freshwater Fish Stamp has built a legacy of strong fisheries, bringing exceptional fishing opportunities to present and future generations. This dedicated funding continues to ensure Texas’ world-class fisheries and enhance economic benefits for communities statewide.
