Gear Requirements
Trawls
Mesh
Must be at least 5/8-inch bar or 1-1/4 inches stretched mesh. Must be at least 3/4-inch bar or 1-1/2 inches stretched mesh during the fall inshore
shrimp season from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Atchafalaya River.
Size and
number
• Inside waters: regulations permit one trawl measuring 50 feet long or less along the cork line and 66 feet long or less along the lead line; two trawls
not exceeding 25 feet each along the cork line and 33 feet along the lead line, with trawl doors no more than 8 feet long and 43 inches high; OR two
trawls not exceeding 25 feet each along the cork line and 33 feet along the lead line, with no more than two outer trawl doors no larger than 8 feet
long and 43 inches high and no more than two inner sled doors. Each vessel may also pull a test trawl. *
• Outside waters: A vessel’s nets may not exceed a total of 130 feet of cork line and 165 feet of lead line, in addition to one test trawl. *
• Breton and Chandeleur Sounds: Regulations permit two trawls, each measuring no more than 65 feet long along the cork line and no more than 82 feet
long along the lead line, plus one test trawl. *
• Federal waters: up to four trawls of any size plus one test trawl.
*A test trawl is no more than 16 feet long along the cork line or 20 feet long along the lead line or head rope.
Butterfly and skimmer nets
Mesh
Must be at least 5/8-inch bar or 1-1/4 inches stretched mesh. Must be at least 3/4 inch bar or 1-1/2 inches stretched mesh during the fall inshore
shrimp season from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Atchafalaya River.
Size and
number
•
A single stationary butterfly net may measure no more than 22 feet vertically or horizontally.
•
Individual nets of double butterfly nets may measure no more than 12 feet vertically or horizontally, unless used on a vessel, in which case they may
measure no more than 12 feet vertically by 16 feet horizontally.
•
Double skimmer nets may have an opening circumference of no more than 72 feet for each net and a maximum lead line length of 33 feet.
Other
•
Butterfly nets may be mounted no more than 24 inches from the side of the vessel.
•
Skimmer nets may be mounted to the horizontal net frame at any distance from the gunwale of the vessel as long as the mounting distance and
horizontal length of the net frame does not exceed 20 feet from the gunwale.
•
You may not tie individual nets together.
•
No sweeper devices, leads, extensions, wings, or other attachments.
•
You must mark butterfly nets with a tag listing your name, address, and net license number when using them in East and West Passes of the Calcasieu
River, Grand Bayou, and in Oyster Bayou (all within Cameron Parish only); if found unmarked, these nets will be seized by LDWF agents or other
authorized employees. This tag must be attached to the net, frame, or any other part directly attached to the net or frame and must be visible above
the water at all times. Letters must be at least 3 inches high and of appropriate width to make it visible and readable.
Examples of legal and illegal skimmer net frames.
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Trawls
Mesh
Must be at least 5/8-inch bar or 1-1/4 inches stretched mesh. Must be at least 3/4-inch bar or 1-1/2 inches stretched mesh during the fall inshore
shrimp season from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Atchafalaya River.
Size and
number
• Inside waters: regulations permit one trawl measuring 50 feet long or less along the cork line and 66 feet long or less along the lead line; two trawls
not exceeding 25 feet each along the cork line and 33 feet along the lead line, with trawl doors no more than 8 feet long and 43 inches high; OR two
trawls not exceeding 25 feet each along the cork line and 33 feet along the lead line, with no more than two outer trawl doors no larger than 8 feet
long and 43 inches high and no more than two inner sled doors. Each vessel may also pull a test trawl. *
• Outside waters: A vessel’s nets may not exceed a total of 130 feet of cork line and 165 feet of lead line, in addition to one test trawl. *
• Breton and Chandeleur Sounds: Regulations permit two trawls, each measuring no more than 65 feet long along the cork line and no more than 82 feet
long along the lead line, plus one test trawl. *
• Federal waters: up to four trawls of any size plus one test trawl.
*A test trawl is no more than 16 feet long along the cork line or 20 feet long along the lead line or head rope.
Butterfly and skimmer nets
Mesh
Must be at least 5/8-inch bar or 1-1/4 inches stretched mesh. Must be at least 3/4 inch bar or 1-1/2 inches stretched mesh during the fall inshore
shrimp season from the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island to the Atchafalaya River.
Size and
number
•
A single stationary butterfly net may measure no more than 22 feet vertically or horizontally.
•
Individual nets of double butterfly nets may measure no more than 12 feet vertically or horizontally, unless used on a vessel, in which case they may
measure no more than 12 feet vertically by 16 feet horizontally.
•
Double skimmer nets may have an opening circumference of no more than 72 feet for each net and a maximum lead line length of 33 feet.
Other
•
Butterfly nets may be mounted no more than 24 inches from the side of the vessel.
•
Skimmer nets may be mounted to the horizontal net frame at any distance from the gunwale of the vessel as long as the mounting distance and
horizontal length of the net frame does not exceed 20 feet from the gunwale.
•
You may not tie individual nets together.
•
No sweeper devices, leads, extensions, wings, or other attachments.
•
You must mark butterfly nets with a tag listing your name, address, and net license number when using them in East and West Passes of the Calcasieu
River, Grand Bayou, and in Oyster Bayou (all within Cameron Parish only); if found unmarked, these nets will be seized by LDWF agents or other
authorized employees. This tag must be attached to the net, frame, or any other part directly attached to the net or frame and must be visible above
the water at all times. Letters must be at least 3 inches high and of appropriate width to make it visible and readable.
Examples of legal and illegal skimmer net frames.
14
81