Fishing in the city? Here's what lurks in Houston's Brays Bayou

The bigmouth sleeper, an uncommon sight, lives in the coastal waters of southern Texas. The bigmouth sleeper, an uncommon sight, lives in the coastal waters of southern Texas. Photo: TPWD Inland Fisheries College Station-Houston District Photo: TPWD Inland Fisheries College Station-Houston District Image 1 of / 29 Caption Close Fishing in the city? Here's what lurks in Houston's Brays Bayou 1 / 29 Back to Gallery

Fishing in an urban environment is something the average person might shy away from, but the Bayou City's waterways are home to an unexpectedly diverse population of fish.

Biologists from the Inland Fisheries College Station-Houston District, run by Texas Parks and Wildlife, conduct periodic surveys of local waterways, and what they found in Brays Bayou on a 2018 outing might surprise you.

Note: If you do go fishing in town, don't eat what you catch - state health officials warn of potential harms eating fish caught in the Houston Ship Channel and associated waterways.

Largemouth bass and catfish are plentiful. Sadly, several species of invasive fish, such as tilapia and chichlids, are also present in large numbers, biologists said.

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The biologists showed off their catches on their fascinating Facebook page, providing anglers with information on where fish are biting, and which species should not be released back into the water. The Texas Parks and Wildlife River Studies team also participated in the survey.

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And, be sure to check local park websites before venturing out to make sure they're still open under stay-at-home orders. TPWD urges anglers to stay six feet away from others in keeping with CDC recommendations, and remember that fishing licensing requirements and state regulations are still in effect.

See the photos above for the results of the TPWD survey, along with some interesting information on the inhabitants of Brays Bayou.