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FISHING GUIDE · LAKE GUERRERO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO
Lake Vicente Guerrero and Falcon Lake Fishing Guide
Falcon Lake and Lake Guerrero are big South Texas and Tamaulipas reservoirs famous for largemouth bass in flooded brush and timber. Falcon is fished from Zapata, Texas, and you need a Texas license on the U.S. side and a Mexican permit for everyone in the boat if you cross into Mexican waters. Officials have warned boaters to stay on the U.S. side of Falcon, and Tamaulipas is under a U.S. 'Do Not Travel' advisory.
📍 Lake Vicente Guerrero (Presa Vicente Guerrero) is in Padilla municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico, about 35 km from Ciudad Victoria off Federal Highway 85. Falcon Lake (Falcon International Reservoir) is on the Rio Grande about 40 miles east of Laredo on Highway 83, in Zapata and Starr counties, Texas, with the other half in Mexico.
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
Open the full Mexico Bass Lakes map →
Quick facts
- Falcon Lake covers 83,654 acres, was impounded in 1954, is up to 110 feet deep at the dam, and is run by the International Boundary & Water Commission.
- In 2008 Paul Elias won the Bassmaster Elite event at Falcon with 132 pounds 8 ounces in four days, a B.A.S.S. record at the time.
- Lake Guerrero flooded the old town of Padilla in 1970, and the dam was inaugurated in 1971; ruins show when the water is low.
- Lake Guerrero covers over 40,000 hectares (about 100,000 acres) and is known for Florida-strain largemouth bass.
- The U.S. State Department rates Tamaulipas Level 4: Do Not Travel (advisory issued May 29, 2026).
What you can catch
- Largemouth bass
Main target on both lakes; Falcon is historically one of the best bass lakes in Texas. - Channel catfish
Common at Falcon; blue and flathead catfish show up now and then. - Alligator gar
Falcon has a special limit of 5 per day, no minimum length. - Other gar
No bag or size limit at Falcon. - White bass
Present at Falcon but hurt by drought. - Crappie
Present at Falcon but hurt by drought.
Month by month
| January | Guerrero's best visiting window (Jan-May) starts; milder weather and tournaments. |
|---|---|
| February | Guerrero tournament season; check Falcon lake level before you go. |
| March | Guerrero's mild season continues. |
| April | Guerrero's mild season continues; Falcon bass fishing on brush and points. |
| May | Last of Guerrero's recommended months before summer heat. |
| June | Hot; fish early and late. |
| July | Hot; fish early and late. |
| August | Hot. Texas license year ends Aug 31. |
| September | New Texas license year begins Sept 1. |
| October | Cooling weather; check water levels, which swing 40-50+ feet at Falcon. |
| November | Cooler weather. |
| December | Cooler weather; plan ahead for spring. |
Tips
- On Falcon, stay on the U.S. side of the lake; DPS, TPWD and the Zapata County Sheriff warned boaters not to go into Mexican waters.
- If you do fish Mexican waters, everyone in the boat needs a Mexico fishing permit; Zapata tackle shops sell them.
- Falcon's water level can swing 40 to 50 feet or more; check levels and ramp access before you go.
- Read the current State Department advisory for Tamaulipas before any trip to Lake Guerrero.
- Deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina-rigged worms produced the record Falcon catches in 2008.
Rules and license
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (U.S. side); CONAPESCA (Mexican side); IBWC (Falcon dam) · Official rules page ↗
- U.S. side: Texas fishing license with freshwater endorsement; residents and non-residents under 17 are exempt. Fees: check current rules.
- Texas black bass: 5 per day combined, 14-inch minimum (statewide rules apply at Falcon).
- Falcon alligator gar: 5 per day, no minimum; other gars no limit.
- Mexican waters: Mexico fishing permit required for everyone in the boat; Mexico boat permits no longer required (TPWD).
- Mexico default bass limit (NOM-060): 5 per day, 350 mm minimum, unless a lake has its own listed limit; check current rules.
- Border waters: officials (DPS, TPWD, Zapata County Sheriff, Oct 2010) told boaters to stay on the U.S. side of Falcon.
- Travel: Tamaulipas is Level 4, Do Not Travel, due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping (U.S. State Department, issued May 29, 2026).
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 0 boat ramps and 0 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
Sources
- https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/recreational/lakes/falcon/
- https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/fishing/freshwater-fishing/bag-length-limits
- https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/licenses/fishing-licenses-stamps-tags-packages/fishing-licenses-and-packages/
- https://www.texastribune.org/2010/10/01/official-warning-after-murder-on-falcon-lake/
- https://www.westernbass.com/article/elias-shatters-bass-record-with-more-than-130-pounds-in-elite-series-win-at-falcon-lake
- https://adoption.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/mexico.html
- https://www.tusbuenasnoticias.com/amp/noticias/mexico/2025/07/19/47997-presa-vicente-guerrero-el-tesoro-natural-de-tamaulipas
- https://www.posta.com.mx/tamaulipas/este-es-el-pueblo-de-tamaulipas-que-desaparecio-bajo-el-agua/vl2033860
- https://outdoors-international.com/lake-guerrero-bass-fishing
- https://dallasnews.com/news/2014/03/09/sasser-mexico-is-a-good-place-for-fishing-adventure
- https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/mex158440.pdf
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.