Commercial Fishing

Wildlife and Fisheries Announces Stock Assessment Schedule

Close up of redfish face

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is currently conducting stock assessments on important recreational and commercial fish stocks, including Redfish (Red Drum), in Louisiana state waters. Stock assessments are computer-modeled simulations of fish populations that incorporate life history metrics (age, growth, reproduction), stock abundance information (survey catch effort),…

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Gulf Council Recommends Modifying Red Snapper Catch Limits

school of red snapper swimming in blue water

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on a framework action to modify red snapper catch limits. The Council chose to decrease the overfishing limit and increase the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, and annual catch targets. The state specific private angling annual catch limits are calculated…

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LDWF Announces Opening Date for the Fall Inshore Shrimp Season

map showing opening areas of the fall inshore shrimp season

Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the opening dates for the fall inshore shrimp season based on information provided by biologists from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), input from the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, and public comments. Season openings are as follows: From the Mississippi/Louisiana…

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LDWF Plans Four Crab Trap Closures Along Louisiana Coast

derelict crab trap

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) allowing the removal of derelict crab traps along Louisiana’s coast in 2023 from the four following described areas: 1.    The first closure will take place in the Pontchartrain Basin, in an area between Delacroix, River Aux Chenes,…

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Inshore Shrimp Season to Close June 30, 2022, in State Inside Waters

deckhand unloading shrimp from skimmer net on boat deck

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2022 spring inshore shrimp season will close at official sunset on Thursday, June 30, 2022, in all state inside waters from the Mississippi/Louisiana state line westward to the Louisiana/Texas state line See the map above detailing this closure or click here….

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Gulf Council Recommends Modifying King Mackerel Catch Limits

king mackerel swimming

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council took final action on Framework Amendment 11 to Modify Gulf group king mackerel Overfishing Limit (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and Annual Catch Limits (ACL). The recent SEDAR 38 Update stock assessment determined that Gulf king mackerel is not overfished and is not experiencing…

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LWFC Adopts Notice of Intent to Create Passive Gear Marking Regulations

two fishermen holding large hoop net with catfish

On May 5, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to create a rule regarding marking nets and traps in freshwater. The proposed rule mirrors the existing saltwater rule in Title 76 and would apply to gill nets, trammel nets, hoop nets, slat traps, and…

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LDWF Announces Opening Dates for the Spring Inshore Shrimp Season

2022 shrimp opening zones map

Today, May 5, 2022, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the opening dates for the state inshore waters based on information provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) biologists and public comments. The Commission action sets the opening date of the spring inshore shrimp season as follows:…

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Shrimp Season to Open in Remaining State Outside Waters on April 25

Map designating opening area of outside waters to shrimp

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the portion of state outside waters between Mound Point on Marsh Island and Freshwater Bayou Canal shall reopen to shrimping at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2022. The opening area is defined as follows: The eastern boundary line originates on…

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