John D. Parker East Texas State Fish Hatchery
Manager: Reese Sparrow
Email: reese.sparrow@tpwd.state.tx.us
Brookeland, Texas 75931
(409) 698-2052
About the Facility
TPWD's newest freshwater hatchery comes on line in 2012, producing up to 5 million fingerlings each year for stocking in the state's public waters. Financed by anglers who purchase the freshwater stamp along with their fishing licenses, the new facility replaces the 1932 Jasper Fish Hatchery and provides much-needed production capacity for largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish and forage fishes.
The new hatchery is named for the late John D. Parker of Lufkin, who served as a Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioner 2003-2009 and was instrumental in securing funding for the project. Located on a 200-acre site donated by Jasper County, the hatchery gets its water supply from Sam Rayburn Reservoir. In addition to the fish production and maintenance facilities, the hatchery grounds provide office space for district fisheries management staff and TPWD's aquatic habitat enhancement team. Visit our news roundup for more photos and information on the new hatchery.
Visitor Information
After the Grand Opening and Open House in April 2012, the hatchery will be closed to the general public until later in the year when construction is completed.
Information collection, reporting and research are produced with support from the federal Sport Fish Restoration program.