No Flying Bait Delivery: TPWD Issues Strict Warning to Texas Anglers Using Drones

Fishing in Texas cannot involve drones. 

Drone Free Fishing 

Everyone always wants an easier way of doing things, and that involves fishing. It appears that some Texas fishermen did not want to bother with putting a boat into the water into order to put bait or chum into the water. Texas Parks and Wildlife say they have been asked if fishermen can use drones to spread bait before they go fishing. The short answer is no. 

Technology and Fishing  

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, “Due to technological advancements with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)/drones, now widely available, TPWD has noticed an increase in questions connected to their use in relation to fishing and wildlife. Some of the most frequent questions have been about the legality of using drones for deploying bait by surf or bank fisherman.” 

The Law 

TPWD cites the 1956 Federal Airborne Hunting Act. The law bans hunters from shooting at wildlife from an aircraft or using an aircraft to harass or capture animals. TPWD says using drones in the course of fishing falls under these guidelines.  

Capturing and Animal Via Air 

The law as it relates to capturing or taking an animal is the portion of the law that applies to fishermen. According to TPWD, fishermen cannot attach a fishing line and hook to a drone or use the drone in any way that results in the capture of a fish. According to TPWD, “Take means to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect. Drones cannot be used to deploy bait … as that is considered aiding in the taking or attempt to take wildlife, which includes fish.”