Licenses and Permits
To operate a vessel for hire and derive income from taking recreational fishermen to saltwater areas within the state to take fish, you must have one or more of
the following licenses issued by LDWF. To apply for LDWF-issued licenses, contact
225.765.2898 or visit LDWF’s headquarters at
2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
New applicants must apply in person at LDWF’s headquarters. Renew your license online at
la.wildlifelicense.com. You must have additional permits issued by NOAA
Fisheries to operate a vessel for hire in federal waters and take passengers to recreationally fish for and retain federally managed species. Fishermen should stay
informed of the state/federal jurisdictional boundary as future congressional actions may affect current boundary demarcation as it applies to reef fish species.
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Operate a charter fishing vessel in
saltwater areas of the state
Charter Boat Fishing
Guide License
Up to six passengers: $250 resident, $1,500 nonresident; more than six passengers: $500
resident, $2,500 nonresident. To qualify for this license, the captain of a charter vessel must
present the following:
• A valid U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License
• A valid driver’s license
• A Louisiana Recreational Fishing License.
• Proof of liability insurance (see page 43)
A licensed Charter Boat Fishing Guide shall not have a Spotted Seatrout Permit.
Are a charter fishing operation which
does not have a charter boat fishing
guide present and consists of a large
vessel carrying small skiffs that will be
used by no more than two people for
fishing purposes
•
Mothership License
(for the main
motorized vessel)
• Charter Skiff License
(for each skiff)
• Mothership with up to six skiffs: $1,000 resident and nonresident; mothership with more
than six skiffs: $2,000 resident and nonresident; mothership captain must have a valid U.S.
Coast Guard Captain’s License on his person.
•
Charter Skiff License (2 persons per skiff limit): $50 resident and nonresident; identifies the
mothership to which it is attached; a licensed skiff may only be used for fishing purposes
while the mothership to which it’s attached is located in Louisiana waters
Are a charter boat captain whose
passengers are fishing for tunas,
billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers,
snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo, or dolphin
Recreational Offshore
Landing Permit
No fee; go to
www.wlf.louisiana.gov/rolp for more details and to obtain a permit.
Own or operate a charter vessel or
headboat and take people out fishing
in federal waters to catch and keep
mackerels, cobia, little tunny, cero,
dolphin, or bluefish
Gulf of Mexico Charter
Vessel/Headboat
Coastal Migratory
Pelagics Permit
No permits are currently being issued (as of 6/16/2003); you may not sell fish under this
permit. Go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/permits for more information.
For-Hire Operators/Charter Vessels
Contact: Jason Adriance, 504.284.2032, jadriance@wlf.la.gov
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To operate a vessel for hire and derive income from taking recreational fishermen to saltwater areas within the state to take fish, you must have one or more of
the following licenses issued by LDWF. To apply for LDWF-issued licenses, contact
225.765.2898 or visit LDWF’s headquarters at
2000 Quail Drive in Baton Rouge.
New applicants must apply in person at LDWF’s headquarters. Renew your license online at
la.wildlifelicense.com. You must have additional permits issued by NOAA
Fisheries to operate a vessel for hire in federal waters and take passengers to recreationally fish for and retain federally managed species. Fishermen should stay
informed of the state/federal jurisdictional boundary as future congressional actions may affect current boundary demarcation as it applies to reef fish species.
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Operate a charter fishing vessel in
saltwater areas of the state
Charter Boat Fishing
Guide License
Up to six passengers: $250 resident, $1,500 nonresident; more than six passengers: $500
resident, $2,500 nonresident. To qualify for this license, the captain of a charter vessel must
present the following:
• A valid U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License
• A valid driver’s license
• A Louisiana Recreational Fishing License.
• Proof of liability insurance (see page 43)
A licensed Charter Boat Fishing Guide shall not have a Spotted Seatrout Permit.
Are a charter fishing operation which
does not have a charter boat fishing
guide present and consists of a large
vessel carrying small skiffs that will be
used by no more than two people for
fishing purposes
•
Mothership License
(for the main
motorized vessel)
• Charter Skiff License
(for each skiff)
• Mothership with up to six skiffs: $1,000 resident and nonresident; mothership with more
than six skiffs: $2,000 resident and nonresident; mothership captain must have a valid U.S.
Coast Guard Captain’s License on his person.
•
Charter Skiff License (2 persons per skiff limit): $50 resident and nonresident; identifies the
mothership to which it is attached; a licensed skiff may only be used for fishing purposes
while the mothership to which it’s attached is located in Louisiana waters
Are a charter boat captain whose
passengers are fishing for tunas,
billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers,
snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo, or dolphin
Recreational Offshore
Landing Permit
No fee; go to
www.wlf.louisiana.gov/rolp for more details and to obtain a permit.
Own or operate a charter vessel or
headboat and take people out fishing
in federal waters to catch and keep
mackerels, cobia, little tunny, cero,
dolphin, or bluefish
Gulf of Mexico Charter
Vessel/Headboat
Coastal Migratory
Pelagics Permit
No permits are currently being issued (as of 6/16/2003); you may not sell fish under this
permit. Go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/permits for more information.
For-Hire Operators/Charter Vessels
Contact: Jason Adriance, 504.284.2032, jadriance@wlf.la.gov
42
109