LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries to Open Oyster Season in Sister Lake

oyster shells

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will open the oyster season in designated portions of the Public Oyster Seed Reservation in Sister Lake to allow harvest for sacking only (larger than 3 inches). Recent biological sampling by LDWF has indicated additional resource availability in Sister Lake. This additional…

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Shrimp Season Closes February 6 in a Portion of State Outside Waters

Shrimp closure map as of February 6, 2023

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2022 fall shrimp season will close at official sunset on Monday, February 6, 2023, in the following portions of the state outside waters: Outside waters between Caillou Boca and the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island. The eastern boundary line…

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Louisiana Shrimp Season to Close in Additional State Inshore Waters

Louisiana shrimp closure map as of January 23, 2023

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the 2022 fall inshore shrimp season will close at official sunset on Monday, January 23, in the following portions of the state inside waters: Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), and a section…

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As Derelict Crab Trap Cleanup Event Approaches, Volunteers are Still Needed

derelict crab trap

Time is running out to sign up to participate in the 2023 derelict crab trap rodeo event. The event will take place this year in the Terrebonne Basin (more details below). This rodeo event allows LDWF and members of the public to work hand-in-hand, removing derelict crab traps that create…

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Notice of Intent to Reduce Cobia Recreational and Commercial Bag Limits

illustration of a cobia fish by Diane Rome Peebles

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to decrease the current 2 fish daily bag limit to 1 fish daily per person and establish a two fish per vessel / per day limit regardless of the number of trips for both recreational and commercial harvest….

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NOI to Remove Buoy Requirements from Freshwater Gill and Trammel Nets

hands of fisherman sorting freshwater fish such as shad and catfish in boat

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a Notice of Intent (NOI) today to remove the requirement of using international orange buoys to mark gill and trammel nets in fresh water.  The buoy requirement language was carried over to freshwater gear from the saltwater marking rule, and is being removed…

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Shrimp Season to Close December 19 in Portions of State Waters

map of Louisiana coast illustrating areas to close December 19, 2022

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the 2022 fall inshore shrimp season will close in all state inside waters on Monday, December 19, 2022, at official sunset, except for the following inside waters east of the Mississippi River: Chef Menteur and Rigolets Passes, Lake Borgne, Mississippi Sound, Mississippi…

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Commercial Large Coastal Sharks Possession Limit Increases to 55 Sharks

blacktip shark

Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the daily possession limit for commercially harvested large coastal sharks (great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, nurse shark, blacktip shark, bull shark, lemon shark, sandbar shark, silky shark, spinner shark, and tiger shark) is increasing from 45 to 55 per…

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Oyster Harvest Closes in a Portion of the Public Oyster Seed Grounds East of the Mississipi

hands holding single oyster, with oysters in background

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will close oyster harvest in a portion of the public oyster seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, in St. Bernard Parish, at one half-hour after sunset on Sunday, November 13, 2022. The portions of the public oyster seed grounds to be…

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LDWF Announces Commercial Fishing License Sale Locations and Dates

fishing boats

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will offer new or renewal commercial fishing licenses and boat registration transactions at the following locations: New Orleans Office 2045 Lakeshore Drive Suite 438 New Orleans Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 8am – 3:30pm Lake Charles Office **NEW LOCATION** 1025 Tom Watson Rd….

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