Insurance Requirements
Licensed charter boat fishing guides and mothership vessels must have proof of
liability insurance in their possession while on the water and make it available
for inspection by duly authorized agents LDWF. Insurance must be:
• In their name (charter boat fishing guides only)
• Currently in force
• Written by a company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of A.M.
Best’s Key Rating Guide
• Of a commercial nature
• Not associated with a primary residence
• At least $300,000 in coverage per occurrence.
Regulations
Individuals fishing under the direction of a charter boat fishing guide or
mothership operation south of the saltwater line for saltwater species must
have a Louisiana saltwater angler’s license in addition to a basic Louisiana
fishing license, except those persons otherwise exempted.
Existing state and federal recreational regulations apply. See LDWF and the Gulf
Council’s recreational fishing regulations brochures for additional details.
• For-hire vessels operated by a legally licensed Louisiana guide with a valid
recreational offshore landing permit in possession may harvest and possess
a recreational limit of reef fish when fishing the waters of the state during
an open season.
•
Federally permitted for-hire vessels fishing in state waters must comply
with federal regulations, unless state regulations are more restrictive.
• Passengers on charter vessels or headboats with two captains for trips
longer than 24 hours may keep a 2-day bag limit of reef fish, king mackerel,
and Spanish mackerel. One-day bag limits apply to all other species and
trips, regardless of trip length.
• The captain and crew of a vessel under charter may not harvest any grouper,
greater amberjack, or red snapper (their possession limit is zero).
• Operators of vessels with Gulf of Mexico reef fish charter vessel/headboat
permits must comply with guidelines for proper care and release of
incidentally caught smalltooth sawfish and sea turtles and must have
specific gear onboard to ensure proper release of such species.
• When fishing for swordfish, a charter vessel may keep no more than 6
swordfish; a headboat may keep no more than 15.
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Own or operate a charter vessel or
headboat and take people out fishing
in federal waters to catch and keep
snappers, groupers, amberjack, tilefish,
hogfish, or gray triggerfish
NOAA Fisheries Charter
Vessel/Headboat Reef
Fish Permit
No permits are currently being issued (as of 6/16/2003). You may not sell fish under this
permit. If your vessel also has a federal Commercial Reef Fish Permit, it must have a VMS
onboard. Go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/permits for more information.
Own or operate a charter vessel or
headboat fishing for or retaining tunas,
sharks, swordfish, and billfish in both
state and federal waters
NOAA Fisheries Atlantic
Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) Charter/
Headboat Permit
$20; go to
www.hmspermits.noaa.gov to buy or renew a permit. A licensed U.S. Coast Guard
captain must be onboard the vessel fishing for Atlantic HMS. The vessel must comply with U.S.
Coast Guard safety gear regulations. A permitted vessel may take passengers to recreationally
fish for or retain any Atlantic HMS with rod and reel; tunas, sharks, and swordfish with
handline; tunas with green-stick or bandit gear; and free-swimming tunas (except bluefin)
with a speargun. This permit also allows some commercial sale of tunas, swordfish, and sharks,
depending on the for-hire status of the vessel and possession of certain permits.
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Licensed charter boat fishing guides and mothership vessels must have proof of
liability insurance in their possession while on the water and make it available
for inspection by duly authorized agents LDWF. Insurance must be:
• In their name (charter boat fishing guides only)
• Currently in force
• Written by a company with at least an A- rating in the latest printing of A.M.
Best’s Key Rating Guide
• Of a commercial nature
• Not associated with a primary residence
• At least $300,000 in coverage per occurrence.
Regulations
Individuals fishing under the direction of a charter boat fishing guide or
mothership operation south of the saltwater line for saltwater species must
have a Louisiana saltwater angler’s license in addition to a basic Louisiana
fishing license, except those persons otherwise exempted.
Existing state and federal recreational regulations apply. See LDWF and the Gulf
Council’s recreational fishing regulations brochures for additional details.
• For-hire vessels operated by a legally licensed Louisiana guide with a valid
recreational offshore landing permit in possession may harvest and possess
a recreational limit of reef fish when fishing the waters of the state during
an open season.
•
Federally permitted for-hire vessels fishing in state waters must comply
with federal regulations, unless state regulations are more restrictive.
• Passengers on charter vessels or headboats with two captains for trips
longer than 24 hours may keep a 2-day bag limit of reef fish, king mackerel,
and Spanish mackerel. One-day bag limits apply to all other species and
trips, regardless of trip length.
• The captain and crew of a vessel under charter may not harvest any grouper,
greater amberjack, or red snapper (their possession limit is zero).
• Operators of vessels with Gulf of Mexico reef fish charter vessel/headboat
permits must comply with guidelines for proper care and release of
incidentally caught smalltooth sawfish and sea turtles and must have
specific gear onboard to ensure proper release of such species.
• When fishing for swordfish, a charter vessel may keep no more than 6
swordfish; a headboat may keep no more than 15.
If you:
You must have a/an:
Fees and notes:
Own or operate a charter vessel or
headboat and take people out fishing
in federal waters to catch and keep
snappers, groupers, amberjack, tilefish,
hogfish, or gray triggerfish
NOAA Fisheries Charter
Vessel/Headboat Reef
Fish Permit
No permits are currently being issued (as of 6/16/2003). You may not sell fish under this
permit. If your vessel also has a federal Commercial Reef Fish Permit, it must have a VMS
onboard. Go to
sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/permits for more information.
Own or operate a charter vessel or
headboat fishing for or retaining tunas,
sharks, swordfish, and billfish in both
state and federal waters
NOAA Fisheries Atlantic
Highly Migratory
Species (HMS) Charter/
Headboat Permit
$20; go to
www.hmspermits.noaa.gov to buy or renew a permit. A licensed U.S. Coast Guard
captain must be onboard the vessel fishing for Atlantic HMS. The vessel must comply with U.S.
Coast Guard safety gear regulations. A permitted vessel may take passengers to recreationally
fish for or retain any Atlantic HMS with rod and reel; tunas, sharks, and swordfish with
handline; tunas with green-stick or bandit gear; and free-swimming tunas (except bluefin)
with a speargun. This permit also allows some commercial sale of tunas, swordfish, and sharks,
depending on the for-hire status of the vessel and possession of certain permits.
43
110