Sec. 46.001.  PROHIBITED ACTS. (a) No person may fish in the public water of this state, or unload in this state fish or other aquatic life taken for sporting purposes from waters managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council established under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.), unless the person has acquired a fishing license issued under this subchapter, except as provided by Sections 46.0012 and 46.002. The commission by rule may prescribe requirements relating to possessing a license required by this subchapter.
(b)  A person in a vessel on tidal water may not possess fish taken for sporting purposes unless the person holds a fishing license issued under this subchapter, except as provided by Sections 46.0012 and 46.002.  In this subsection, "tidal water" has the meaning assigned by Section 47.001.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.  Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 267, art. 2, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 1985;  Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 799, Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 1989;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 931, Sec. 49, eff. June 16, 1995.
Amended by: 
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1159 (H.B. 12), Sec. 42, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 111 (H.B. 1322), Sec. 1, eff. May 21, 2011.