If you have a budding artist or fish enthusiast in your family, it’s time to get those creative juices flowing! The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center has officially kicked off the 2025 Texas Fish Art Contest.
The contest, which runs through Feb. 28, is part of Wildlife Forever’s international conservation education program and is designed to encourage students to dive into the wonders of Texas fish species and habitats — all through the canvas of their imagination.
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“We always look forward to this time of year when we are once again amazed by the outstanding work and artistic interpretations of these young Texans,” said Tom Lang, TFFC Director. “The Fish Art Contest does a tremendous job of exposing students across Texas to the wonders of fish and fisheries resources through the nexus of art.”
Students from grades 4-12 are invited to submit an original drawing of a Texas fish species along with a one-page creative writing piece, while younger students in grades K-3 can enter the contest with just their artwork. The top pieces from each grade level will be featured in the Texas Fish Art calendar and have a chance to win scholarships, prizes, and more.
New to this year’s contest is the Special Species Award, which will spotlight a different species annually. For 2025, the focus is on the Guadalupe Bass, the official state fish of Texas. This small but mighty species is found exclusively in the rivers and streams of Texas.
The Guadalupe Bass holds a special place in Texas history thanks to Shirley Watson and her third-grade class at Decatur Elementary School. Back in 1989, they successfully petitioned lawmakers to designate a state fish for Texas, choosing the Guadalupe Bass because it’s found “only in Texas.”
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How to enter
To participate, students must submit a completed entry form and their artwork in landscape orientation sized between 8x10 inches and 9x12 inches. Once submitted, the physical artwork must be mailed to TFFC in Athens, Texas, and postmarked no later than Feb. 28.
Texas winners will earn automatic entry to the national Wildlife Forever contest, where their work will compete on a larger stage with young artists from across the U.S.
For more details, including entry forms and official rules, visit the Texas Fish Art Contest website or check out the Texas Fish Art Program Facebook page.