Ben Ficklin :" .. the taxpayer dollars that pay for it come out of the pockets of fishermen(licenses and excise taxes on fishing equipment and supplies ."
Those monies derived from licenses go into a 'general fund',
and are not identified nor directed to go into fisheries expenses or maintenance.
"Not a cent of fishing or hunting license fees goes to the state's General Revenue Fund or other accounts used to pay for non-outdoors-related state programs or services. All of it goes directly into the Game, Fish and Water Safety Fund-officially, Fund 9-which, by law, can be used only to fund TPWD programs."
Source