San Angelo Prepares for Fishing Holiday

The United States will celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week beginning on June 6. San Angelo will not miss out on the festivities; on June 6, public waters will be open to fish all around Texas, even to those without a fishing license.

Tom Green County game warden Cynthia Aguilar recommended either the Concho River or Twin Buttes to fishermen. Texas Parks and Wildlife stocks catfish downtown in the Concho River every other Friday, so that would be an ideal spot for fishers on Saturday. OC Fisher and Lake Nasworthy are options for fishermen as well. According to Aguilar, recent rains have raised water levels on all of these waters, making them prime for fishing. Keep in mind that fishing without a license is permitted at any Texas state park, even outside of National Fishing Week on June 6.

Families are invited to fish on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. downtown at Celebration Bridge behind the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. San Angelo Bass Busters are also holding a tournament from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. the same day. Cash will be offered as prizes for adults and gift cards will be prizes for those 16 and under. The entry fee will be $80 for adults and free for youths 16 and under. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Rust Street Ministries. For more details, see the Bass Busters’ Facebook page. 

Fishers, however, will still be expected to adhere to bag limits and length limits, as well as other regulations. For examples of these limits, check the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. 

Aguilar offered advice to those who will be picking up a fishing rod for the first time on Saturday.

“I wouldn’t have high expectations here, but the only thing I could tell somebody who’s new to fishing is to be patient,” Aguilar said. “Other than Twin Buttes, we’re not known to have a huge fishing lake down here. More so in Del Rio or Ivy. But really that’s the main thing I tell a person: be patient, especially when you’re new to [fishing].”