News

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….

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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)…

Read More

LWFC Adopts Notice of Intent Extending the Modified Gear Use for the Special Bait Dealer’s Permit

closeup on colorful fishing nets

Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a notice of intent (NOI) to amend the existing permit rules to extend the sunset for the Special Bait Dealer’s Permit current gear requirements to December 31, 2026.  The Special Bait Dealer’s Permit was designed to provide live bait to the recreational…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

LDWF Plans Six Crab Trap Closures Along Louisiana Coast for 2024

People returning derlict crab traps

At today’s meeting, 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 2024 from the six following described areas: The first closure will occur in the Pontchartrain Basin, between southern Lake Borgne and the eastern…

Read More