12.6
million
pounds of
freshwater finfish
were landed by
commercial fishermen
in Louisiana
in 2015.
71%
of active freshwater
commercial fishermen in
Louisiana harvest
catfish.
Area Restrictions
Free fish passage: Do not set gear, such as trawls, nets, or seines, within 500
feet of the mouth of any inlet or pass or within 500 feet of any water control
structures, dams, or weirs. This ensures fish can pass freely through these areas.
Louisiana/Mississippi Border: When fishing in border waters, you must attach
waterproof tags with your full name and license number to trotlines, snag lines,
hoop nets, gill nets, and trammel nets, in lieu of tags required by Mississippi
regulations. You must place the tag within 5 feet of one end on trot and snag
lines, on the first hoop on hoop nets, and on the float line within 5 feet of one
end on gill and trammel nets. Louisiana fishermen using slat traps or baskets
in border waters must obtain tags from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife,
Fisheries, and Parks.
Impoundments: You may not use nets to harvest fish in freshwater
impoundments during water drawdown periods, unless LDWF specifies otherwise.
Closures begin on the date the drawdown control structure opens and continues
until the lake is full again.
WMAs and refuges: Commercial fishing is
permitted in:
•
Fort Polk (specific regulations pertaining to fishing are posted at specific
lakes)
•
Grassy Lake*, except in Smith Bay, Red River Bay, and Grassy Lake on Saturday
and Sunday and during waterfowl season
•
Pomme de Terre*, except on the weekends and during duck season
•
Richard K. Yancey, except during regular waterfowl seasons in Grand Bay,
Silver Lake, and Lower Sunk Lake
• Spring Bayou* (Monday through Friday and after 2 pm during waterfowl
season). However, you may use slat traps and hoop nets any day, you may
never use gill or trammel nets, and you may not harvest grass carp.
*You must have a permit to fish Grassy Lake, Pomme de Terre, and Spring Bayou
WMAs. Permits are available from
Spring Bayou Headquarters
or the
Opelousas Field Office at
337.948.0255.
Commercial fishing is
prohibited in Ouachita WMA.
Prohibited Freshwater Species
You may not commercially harvest the following freshwater species:
Largemouth bass
Hybrid striped bass
Shadow bass
Spotted bass
Striped bass
White bass
Yellow bass
Black crappie
Bream (any species)
Paddlefish (spoonbill catfish)
White crappie
All species of piranha
Atlantic, pallid, and shovelnose
sturgeons (whole or any body
parts, including roe)
Rio Grand cichlid
All species of tilapia
Rudd
Freshwater electric eel
Channidae (snakeheads)
All members of the family
Synbranchida (Asian swamp eels)
Trichomycteridae (pencil
catfishes)
Clariidae (walking catfishes)
37
104
million
pounds of
freshwater finfish
were landed by
commercial fishermen
in Louisiana
in 2015.
71%
of active freshwater
commercial fishermen in
Louisiana harvest
catfish.
Area Restrictions
Free fish passage: Do not set gear, such as trawls, nets, or seines, within 500
feet of the mouth of any inlet or pass or within 500 feet of any water control
structures, dams, or weirs. This ensures fish can pass freely through these areas.
Louisiana/Mississippi Border: When fishing in border waters, you must attach
waterproof tags with your full name and license number to trotlines, snag lines,
hoop nets, gill nets, and trammel nets, in lieu of tags required by Mississippi
regulations. You must place the tag within 5 feet of one end on trot and snag
lines, on the first hoop on hoop nets, and on the float line within 5 feet of one
end on gill and trammel nets. Louisiana fishermen using slat traps or baskets
in border waters must obtain tags from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife,
Fisheries, and Parks.
Impoundments: You may not use nets to harvest fish in freshwater
impoundments during water drawdown periods, unless LDWF specifies otherwise.
Closures begin on the date the drawdown control structure opens and continues
until the lake is full again.
WMAs and refuges: Commercial fishing is
permitted in:
•
Fort Polk (specific regulations pertaining to fishing are posted at specific
lakes)
•
Grassy Lake*, except in Smith Bay, Red River Bay, and Grassy Lake on Saturday
and Sunday and during waterfowl season
•
Pomme de Terre*, except on the weekends and during duck season
•
Richard K. Yancey, except during regular waterfowl seasons in Grand Bay,
Silver Lake, and Lower Sunk Lake
• Spring Bayou* (Monday through Friday and after 2 pm during waterfowl
season). However, you may use slat traps and hoop nets any day, you may
never use gill or trammel nets, and you may not harvest grass carp.
*You must have a permit to fish Grassy Lake, Pomme de Terre, and Spring Bayou
WMAs. Permits are available from
Spring Bayou Headquarters
or the
Opelousas Field Office at
337.948.0255.
Commercial fishing is
prohibited in Ouachita WMA.
Prohibited Freshwater Species
You may not commercially harvest the following freshwater species:
Largemouth bass
Hybrid striped bass
Shadow bass
Spotted bass
Striped bass
White bass
Yellow bass
Black crappie
Bream (any species)
Paddlefish (spoonbill catfish)
White crappie
All species of piranha
Atlantic, pallid, and shovelnose
sturgeons (whole or any body
parts, including roe)
Rio Grand cichlid
All species of tilapia
Rudd
Freshwater electric eel
Channidae (snakeheads)
All members of the family
Synbranchida (Asian swamp eels)
Trichomycteridae (pencil
catfishes)
Clariidae (walking catfishes)
37
104