Welcome to 2025 Louisiana Fishing

Please refer to the LDWF website for current information.

Marine Fisheries

1. The use of crab traps will be prohibited in various designated derelict crab trap cleanup areas during certain periods in the month of February. Please check our website for the most recent information on the times and locations of the closures.
2. A Recreational Saltwater Bowfishing Permit has been established that requires anyone aged 18 years and older taking or attempting to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear or engaging in bowfishing activity south of the designated saltwater line. Anglers under the age of 18 years and anglers on a charter boat as clients are not required to have a Bowfishing Permit, however, charter captains must have a permit.
3. A rule change to adjust the size and possession limits of Red Drum has been implemented. New Red Drum bag limits are 4 fish per person. The new minimum size limit is 18 inches total length. Retention of Red Drum over the maximum size limit of 27 inches total length is now prohibited. Charter captains and crew may not possess a daily limit of Red Drum while on a for-hire trip, their bag limit is zero, however, charter captains and guides may engage in fishing to demonstrate how to catch Red Drum.
4. Rule changes were implemented to allow anglers to have a three day possession limit of Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout when the angler can provide a receipt from a licensed charter guide service showing payment and dates of the multi-day charter trip. The angler must also demonstrate that the angler has been on a multi-day charter fishing trip and has been actively on the water at a remote camp that can only be accessed by water for two-days or more. Fish kept under the provisions of this rule must be kept whole or whole gutted and are for transportation purposes only, and no angler shall be actively fishing or engaged in fishing while in possession of more than the daily bag limit. Possession of guide limits is prohibited under the provision of this rule.
5. Rule changes requiring the marking of passive saltwater hooked gear have been finalized. These changes require that no more than 50 recreational yo-yos, trigger devices, limb lines, or floating devices containing a hook or hooks shall be allowed per person and no person shall set more than 150 hooks on all recreational trotlines, combined. Further rule changes require that each yo-yo, trigger device, trotline, limb line, jug, or other passive fishing device containing a hook or hooks shall be clearly tagged with the fishing license number of the owner or user. Rules also require that each of the passive devices listed above shall be rebaited at least once every 24 hours, and all fish and any other animal caught, entangled, ensnared, or hooked shall be immediately removed from the device and any devices not being used are to be immediately removed from the water. Further changes address anchoring of passive devices.
6. A rule change to remove size and possession limits for recreationally harvested bull and blacktip sharks and to make shortfin mako sharks a prohibited species have been implemented.
7. The season for the recreational harvest of Greater Amberjack has been changed in federal waters off of Louisiana to be open from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 of each year or until the quota is met or projected to be met. There is an annual closed season from Jan. 1 through Aug. 31 and Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 of each year.

Inland Fisheries

1. Rule changes requiring the marking of passive freshwater hooked gear are being considered and could be in place during the latter part of 2024. These rule changes would require that each yo-yo, trigger device, trotline, limb line, jug, or other passive fishing device containing a hook or hooks shall be clearly tagged with the fishing license number of the owner or user.
2. Rule changes requiring the marking of freshwater nets and trap are being considered and could be in place during the latter part of 2024. These rule changes would require that each hoop net, wire net, slat traps, cans or line of cans, barrel, and bream trap be clearly tagged with the fishing license number of the owner or user.

Free Fishing Weekend

June 7-8

Enjoy a weekend of fishing in Louisiana without having to purchase a license. Visit www.wlf.la.gov for special events and more information.

Sincerely,

Madison D. Sheahan, LDWF Secretary