I am new to the state, so I am not sure about some of the laws, and the game and fish site is not giving me the info I need.
I live in Mission, and there is a canal running thru town. I have seen people fishing along it, but when I try to ask questions they don't seem to speak English. What I am wanting to know is, is it legal to fish there? do you need a certain kind of license, or any license at all? Any info would be great.

yes you need a license for any type of fishing, you can get it at any academy or walmart

I used to live down in the valley. Never really fished any of the canals, but heard many stories of bass, catfish and large gar coming out of them. All you need to fish them is a freshwater fishing license. If you go out to the Port Isabel/South Padre Island area you will need a saltwater fishing license.

Call any of your local Game Wardens if you want to be certain.

Hidalgo County Game Warden(s)

Game Warden Phone
Jaimez, Oscar 956-270-3878
Plumas, William J 956-367-2643
Rakosky, Harry M 956-330-3535
Zuniga, Alexis I 956-371-7556

Going to give the canal a shot tonight, never caught a gar, are they even edible? and if so, how do you clean, and fix them?

They are edible, but difficult to clean. I recommend a pair of garden scissors and treating it like you would the backstrap on a deer.

I lived in McAllen for awhile and never did any fresh water fishing but with the coast not far away that was the place to be

Lived in the San Benito and Harlingen area more years than I like to admit to but to your question all of the canals in the Valley are good for fishing try to find a time when water is moving and you can catch bass, Crappie, Catfish and gar. Chicken liver and cut shad are excellent bait. Some big fish to be caught, Hundreds of miles of these canals. Good Luck!

Thanks for all the info, stepdaughter caught her first flathead tonight, and wants to go back tomorrow. She did say that channels are better looking than flatheads. Not sure I agree, but I love to fish. Going to try some cut bait tomorrow.

My grandparents lived in Mission when I was a kid. My grandpa took me fishing at the canals, I can still remember catching big bream and perch there and bringing them home to fry up... that was 50 years ago, I don't remember much from that far back, special memories...