Arroyo Colorado

Boat Ramps: 3
Access Points: 3
Species: 17

The Arroyo Colorado is an ancient distributary of the Rio Grande River that stretches from Mission, Texas, to the Laguna Madre through three South Texas counties – Cameron, Willacy, and Hidalgo. This approximately 90-mile-long waterway serves as drainage for crop irrigation, municipal wastewater returns, and as a floodway during periods of heavy precipitation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In the late 1940s, the Corps of Engineers dredged and channelized the lower 41 km segment from the Port of Harlingen to the Laguna Madre for commercial barge traffic. The Arroyo Colorado is a vital part of the Lower Laguna Madre ecosystem, serving as a nursery and habitat for many recreationally important species. Its unique blend of fresh and saltwater creates a diverse fishery that attracts anglers year-round.

Texas licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Arroyo Colorado and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Alligator Gar

Atractosteus spatula

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus

Blue Tilapia

Oreochromis aureus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Freshwater Drum

Aplodinotus grunniens

Green Sunfish

Lepomis cyanellus

Longnose Gar

Lepisosteus osseus

Rio Grande Cichlid

Herichthys cyanoguttatus

Rock Bass

Ambloplites rupestris

Smallmouth Buffalo

Ictiobus bubalus

Warmouth Sunfish

Lepomis gulosus

White Bass

Morone chrysops

White Crappie

Pomoxis annularis

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Arroyo Colorado. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

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Know where you can legally fish on Arroyo Colorado

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Texas licenses and regulations

Texas Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Texas Fishing License

All residents and visitors over the age of 17 require a Texas fishing license to reel in fish, mussels, clams, and crayfish across the state. In addition, you’ll need specific tags or endorsements based on the size of the catch and its location.

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Texas Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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Texas Stream Access Laws

Access must usually be obtained through the use of public property. The typical access may be from the right of way of a public road that crosses the stream, through a publicly owned boat launch area, or from some other public land (a park, for example) adjacent to the stream. There is no general right to cross private property to get to a navigable stream. There are a number of privately owned parks or campgrounds where members of the public may have access to a navigable stream by paying a small fee to the landowner. If the private landowner forbids access, an attempt to use the private land would be a trespass. Texas courts have recognized that a member of the public may engage in a variety of lawful activities along a navigable stream. Besides boating, persons may swim, float, walk, wade, picnic, camp, and (with a license) fish. Public use must be confined to the stream bed and, to a limited extent, the banks. State law prohibits parking on a highway bridge and generally forbids (with certain exceptions) parking in the main traveled part of a highway. Within a public road’s right of way, private fencing that restricts public passage to the stream is illegal.

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Take Arroyo Colorado with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

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