The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2016 spring inshore shrimp season will close at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 15, in the remainder of state inside waters except for the open waters of Mississippi, Breton and Chandeleur Sounds.

This action closes shrimping in inside waters within the Mermentau, Calcasieu and Sabine Rivers Basins extending from the western shore of Freshwater Bayou Canal westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line.

Effective with this closure, all state inside waters will be closed to shrimping except for the open waters of Mississippi Sound and Breton and Chandeleur Sounds as described by the double–rig line in R.S. 56:495.1(A)2.  All state outside waters seaward of the Inside/Outside shrimp line will remain open to shrimp harvesting until further notice.

Data collected in recent weeks by LDWF biologists indicate increased quantity, distribution and percentage of small, juvenile white shrimp within these waters. The decision to close these waters was made to protect these developing shrimp and provide opportunity for growth to larger and more marketable sizes. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will meet August 4th to consider opening dates for the fall inshore shrimp season.

For a map detailing areas that will remain open to shrimping please see map above or click here:
http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/shrimp-seasons.

For more information, contact Jeff Marx at (337) 373-0032 or [email protected].

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive recreational or commercial fishing email and text alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.