Breeding Your Own
Texas doesn’t take healthy sport fish populations for granted.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department operates freshwater and saltwater hatcheries that produce millions of largemouth bass, catfish, trout, redfish, spotted seatrout and more.
Want to experience the wonder for yourself? These hatcheries offer a fascinating experience for visitors.
Chase Fountain | TPWD
Sea Center Texas is a marine aquarium, fish hatchery and education center in Lake Jackson that includes a visitor center with aquariums and exhibits of Texas marine life, the largest redfish hatchery in the world, 36 fish culture ponds, a wetland exhibit and youth fishing pond.
The CCA Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi is the first state-operated hatchery and visitor center and is one of the best-kept secrets in Texas. The hatchery produces juvenile red drum and spotted seatrout for releasing into Texas bays.
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens includes more than 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums displaying dozens of species of native fish, waterfowl, alligators and amphibians. Three fishing ponds are regularly stocked and ready for guests. Tram tours, a dive show, wetland trail, Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and other exhibits are available. The hatchery produces millions of largemouth bass annually and is home to the famed ShareLunker program.
