Top fish species at Pilot Channel

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Check which species have trophy potential in Pilot Channel

Pilot Channel fishing reports

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Suckermouth catfish

length · weight

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Spotted gar

length · weight

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Blue catfish

length · weight

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Red drum

length · weight

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59 in · 40 lb

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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General info

Pilot Channel is a canal located in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is most popular for fishing Alligator gar, Channel catfish, and Spotted gar.

Location

26°18′47.1″N 97°43′19″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Pilot Channel, TX

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Texas can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Alligator gar

Alligator gar

Regulation boundaryTexas State Waters
Bag limit1

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Additional information
No minimum or maximum size limit. Special restrictions apply to Alligator Gar, you must review TPWD Alligator Gar restrictions. Statewide regulations apply to all public fresh waters except locations noted in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
Edibility
Poor. Check out this monster alligator gar caught by BlueGabe!
Synonyms
Atractosteus spatula
Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryTexas State Waters
Bag limit25

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit25

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Additional information
No minimum size, but only 10 of the 25 catfish bag limit can be 20-inches or greater in length; this applies to blue and channel catfish in any combination. Hook and line only. Statewide regulations apply to all public fresh waters except locations noted in the Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
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Local laws and licenses

Texas fishing license

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Reviews of Pilot Channel

5.0
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1 ratings

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1
Top reviews

Cities nearby

Sebastian

5.1 miles away

Yznaga

5.8 miles away

Santa Rosa

7.5 miles away

Harlingen

8.5 miles away

Santa Monica

8.9 miles away

Rio Hondo

10.2 miles away

Raymondville

11.7 miles away

Laguna Seca

12.9 miles away

San Benito

13.6 miles away

San Perlita

13.9 miles away

Mercedes

16.2 miles away

Elsa

16.9 miles away

La Tina Ranch

17.0 miles away

Iglesia Antigua

17.9 miles away

Los Indios

18.2 miles away

La Blanca

19.0 miles away

Weslaco

19.5 miles away

Harding Gill Tract

19.8 miles away

Progreso Lakes

22.2 miles away

Donna

23.7 miles away

Alamo

26.2 miles away

Edinburg

27.1 miles away

San Juan

28.0 miles away

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FAQ about Pilot Channel fishing

📍 Where is Pilot Channel located?
Pilot Channel is a canal located in Cameron County, Texas, United States. Its coordinates are:
26°18′47.1″N 97°43′19″W
.
🎣 Where on Pilot Channel is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on Pilot Channel by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in Pilot Channel?
The most common species in Pilot Channel are:
📢 What are the latest Pilot Channel fishing reports?
The latest Pilot Channel fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at Pilot Channel right now?
According to fishing regulations at Pilot Channel, some of the species in season this November include: Atlantic bluefin tuna. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at Pilot Channel?

Fishing in Texas requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Resident and non-resident licenses, including short-term and combination options, are available online or from licensed retailers statewide.

In Texas, no fishing license is required for anglers under 17 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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