Fishery Management

Recreational Gag Grouper State, Federal Fishing Season to Close October 19

gag group La Fisheries Forward

The federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an emergency season modification for the recreational Gag Grouper fishery, which closes the fishery at 12:01 a.m. on October 19. The Gag Grouper recreational season was originally scheduled to close on November 9, 2023.  The fishery will remain closed until…

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Reminder: Flounder Season Set to Close October 15 to November 30 for Commercial and Recreational Sectors

several flounder in ice chest

The annual closed season for the recreational and commercial harvest of Southern Flounder, from October 15 through November 30 of each year, is approaching. This statewide closure for Southern Flounder is for all sectors and all gear types, including any flounder caught as bycatch in any other fishery.  Exemptions that…

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LWFC Passes NOI to Modify Rules for Menhaden Fishery

Image: Map for Proposed Menhaden Buffer Modification

At yesterday’s meeting, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed a Notice of Intent (NOI) to amend rules to the menhaden fishery regarding the buffer zone and spill reporting. Buffer Zone This portion of the NOI establishes a coastal buffer zone for the commercial harvest of menhaden 1-mile off the entire…

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Recreational Greater Amberjack State, Federal Fishing Season to Close August 25

greater amberjack

The federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a closure for the recreational Greater Amberjack fishery because catch limits established by the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council have been met. The 2023 recreational season for the harvest of greater amberjack in the federal and state waters of…

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The LWFC Amends Notice of Intent Modifying Spotted Seatrout Size And Bag Limits

four men fishing from inshore charter boat

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) amended the Notice of Intent (NOI) to change spotted seatrout size and bag limits.  The commission proposes to amend the original Notice of Intent to a minimum size limit of 13 inches and establish a maximum size limit of 20 inches with an allowance for…

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LDWF grants permit for pilot project to test stocking of hatchery-raised red drum

Close up of redfish face

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is providing a special permit to transport and stock approximately 10,000 red drum fingerlings in the Calcasieu Lake estuary as part of a pilot project to investigate the biological and ecological efficacy of stocking with hatchery-raised fish. The fish are expected to…

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LDWF Increasing Red Snapper Daily Creel Limit to Four Fish

red snapper

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Shadoin signed a declaration of emergency to increase the daily creel limit for recreationally harvested red snapper from three to four fish effective Monday, July 17, 2023 thereby maximizing the allowable bag limit delegated to Louisiana under state management. The increase…

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Louisiana Private Recreational Red Snapper Landing Estimates Through June 25, 2023

red snapper

Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) released the latest private recreational red snapper landing estimates through June 25, 2023. LA Creel, LDWF’s near real-time landings data collection program, indicates that 191,965 pounds, or 20.5 percent, of Louisiana’s 2023 annual private recreational allocation of 934,587 pounds have been…

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LWF Commission Adopted a Notice of Intent to Modify Red Drum Size and Bag Limits

Close up of redfish face

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to change the red drum size limit from a 16-inch minimum size limit and a 27-inch maximum size limit to an 18-inch minimum size limit total length and a 24-inch maximum size limit total length. The red…

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