LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

Reminder Upcoming Oyster Season Openings for the 2023-2024 Public Oyster Season

sacks of oysters with shucking tool and gloves on top

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind oyster harvesters that the following areas will open for sacking only (larger than 3 inches) on Monday, November 13, 2023: Bay Gardene Public Oyster Seed Reservation, Vermilion/East, West Cote Blanche Bay/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds, including all areas…

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LDWF Announces Commercial Fishing License Sale Locations and Dates

image of fishing net laying on a dock

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will offer new or renewal commercial fishing licenses and boat registration transactions at the following locations: Lake Charles Office 1025 Tom Watson Rd. Lake Charles, LA Nov. 27 & 28 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lafayette Office 200 Dulles Drive Lafayette, LA Nov….

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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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The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries eReporting app for the 2023-2024 Public Oyster Season is Live

oyster shells

eReporting is a mobile application developed by Shellcatch for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that allows those individuals harvesting oysters from the Public Oyster Areas and Seed Grounds for oyster resource to report what was harvested for a given date. This application allows users to report harvest information…

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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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National Hunting and Fishing Day to be Held Sept. 23, LDWF Announces

Image: National Hunting and Fishing Day

Louisiana’s National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) will be held Saturday (Sept. 23) at four locations across the state, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. Waddill Wildlife Refuge in Baton Rouge, Woodworth Shooting Range in Woodworth, the Tom Merrill Recreation Area at Bodcau Wildlife Management Area (WMA)…

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The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission Sets the 2023-2024 Oyster Season

oysters

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the 2023-2024 oyster season based on the annual oyster stock assessment provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists and comments received from members of the public, including the oyster industry. The following dates were set for the upcoming oyster season: The…

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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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