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Welcome to 2026 Louisiana Fishing

Smiling child wearing a life jacket holds a large fish while standing on a boat on open water, featured on the cover of the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations.
A young angler proudly shows off a successful catch on the cover of the 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations, celebrating family-friendly fishing and outdoor recreation in Louisiana waters.

Major Changes for 2026

Please refer to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recreational fishing website for the most current information.

  1. Changes were made to under the “Activities that Require a License” section.
  2. Added a Resident Honorably Discharged Hunt/Fish License for $20.
  3. Updated regulations on Biloxi WMA.

Marine Fisheries

  1. The use of crab traps will be prohibited in various designated derelict crab trap cleanup areas during certain periods in the months of February and March. Please check our website for the most recent information on the times and locations of the closures.
  2. A rule change to establish a bag and possession limit of Wahoo has been implemented. New Wahoo bag and possession limits are 5 per person.
  3. Added Wahoo to Saltwater Size and Creel Limits Chart.
  4. Closed season for the recreational harvest of gag grouper changed to Jan. 1 through August 31.

Inland Fisheries

  1. The black bass daily bag limit at Bussey Brake Reservoir remains 5 fish total, but the maximum length limit has changed from 16” to 18”. Only black bass less than 18” in total length may be retained, with the exception that one black bass over 22” may be temporarily retained in an aerated livewell for the purpose of weighing. The bass must be immediately released into Bussey Brake Reservoir following weighing, and all anglers in the boat (if the bass was caught from a boat) must cease fishing until the temporarily retained bass over 22 inches has been released. (Freshwater Creel and Size Limits & WMAs, Refuges and Federal Lands)
  2. Corrections have been made to netting regulations.
  3. Changes to the Gear Restrictions by Location.

Free Fishing Weekend

June 6-7

Enjoy a weekend of fishing in Louisiana without purchasing a license, and visit the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website for special events and additional information.

A Letter from the Secretary

Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise for our diverse recreational fishing opportunities available across this great state. It is the mission of our Department to protect, conserve and promote our natural resources to preserve this time-honored tradition that makes Louisiana culture so unique. Whether you are casting a line on one of our WMAs, on privately owned land, in the bayous, or in the Gulf of America, all anglers are conservationists and therefore play a vital role in aiding us in this mission. As an avid angler myself, I want to remind you that as you prepare for an exciting time on the water, please remember to keep safety for yourself and those around you as a top priority and to stay mindful of the rules and regulations in place to help conserve our aquatic resources for generations to come. Wishing everyone a fun and successful fishing season and hope to see you and your families out on the water.

Sincerely,

Tyler M. Bosworth, LDWF Secretary

Portrait of Tyler M. Bosworth, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, wearing a navy suit jacket and white shirt, smiling against a neutral background.
Tyler M. Bosworth, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), provides leadership and oversight for Louisiana’s wildlife conservation, fisheries management, and outdoor recreation programs.
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