We fished Sunday and had put in at the public ramp on Lake Fork just of 515/17 hwys, the one across the street
from AJ's. We came back in about noonish and was meet by the Game Warden. We had pulled out and were drying the boat in the parking lot.
He asked us for our fishing licenses, life jackets, fire extingusher, and a throwable. He also asked if we had caught/kept any fish.
He was very cordial and polite. I was pleased to see him there and more than happy to answer and show him everything, and I made it a point to thank him for his service. He looked at about 5 boats while we were there. Good job sir.

is throwable required all the time or just if with inflatable life jacket?

I dont know, we were wearing inflatables..

Throwable flotation is a must for all boats over (I think) 16' in length. This is in addition to your required PFD.

I think you have to have a throwable floatation device on any boat greater than 16 ft. better to be safe than get a ticket

From the Texas Parks and Wildlife website,..

Remember that in Texas:
�Children under 13 years of age in or on vessels under 26 feet must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable PFD while underway.
�All vessels under 16 feet (including canoes and kayaks) must be equipped with one Type I, II, III or V for each person on board.
�Vessels 16 feet and longer, in addition to the Type I, II, III or V for each person on board, must have one Type IV throwable device which must be readily accessible. Canoes and kayaks over 16 feet are exempt from the Type IV requirement.
�For more complete information, check the Digest of the Water Safety Act.

The standard life vest does not qualify as a throwable device even though you could throw it to someone, so you need a throwable one as listed above.

Yes it is required . And I believe it is on Amistad it has to be out of the storage compartments or they can give you a ticket.

Not sure if this is just a Coast Guard requirement, I've been hassled about it before on Bastrop. Didn't get a ticket, but he said it had to be more accessible than it was... I had it buried at the bottom of a compartment

To get back on point..
1. They are looking at Fork,
2. I'm all for water safety and enforcement, keep up the good work.

Game Wardens are awesome.

If you are off the water, why does he care whether or not you have the required stuff? Your not fishing or boating, your cleaning. I would think the only thing he would be concerned about was whether or not you cleaned any hydrilla off your boat. Does Fork have Zebra Muscles? If so, that too.

I didn't know they could ask for a Fishing LC. unless they see you fishing??
Many people don't fish

Most game wardens come pre-loaded with common sense. (They just watched him load his boat and he probably had fishing rods on the deck)