Louisiana Commercial Fishermen
Commercial fishing is a crucial part of the heritage, culture and commerce along Louisiana’s coast. Our state is home to the most productive seafood industry in the lower 48—about 1 billion pounds of seafood, on average, is landed in Louisiana each year for commercial sale, with an estimated dockside value of $300 million. Louisiana seafood fuels our economy, and feeds a global population.
Commercial fishing is both a science and an art. The ‘art’ of commercial fishing can only be learned through doing—reading the tides, locating good spots for catch, experimenting to find the gear and bait that works for you. But this is only one part of the commercial fisherman’s business. Our goal, through Louisiana Fisheries Forward, is to help fishermen understand the ‘science’ of fishing—the business trends, new technologies and equipment, and regulatory rules and policies that lead to financial success AND resource preservation.
The curriculum included here covers a wide variety of topics to help commercial fishermen understand licensing and permitting requirements, trip tickets and federal reporting, receiving, handling and storing catch, and responsible and safe fishing.
Be sure to check out the video, download our Fast Facts, and visit the resource links below for the full picture of how to be a successful commercial fisherman; and check back often for updates to this page.
This video is for educational purposes only. Watching this video does not fulfill the basic requirements for the LDWF Commercial Crab Gear Requirement; for more information visit: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/mandatory-crab-trap-license-training.
Fisheries management in Louisiana is firmly rooted in science. Biologists with LDWF, Sea Grant and NOAA monitor environmental conditions, species populations, and other biological data to determine seasons, catch limits, gear requirements, handling practices and more. We are determined to work together with fishermen to maintain healthy fish populations and habitat for the benefit of all.
Menhaden Bycatch Study Results Presented by LGL Ecological Research Associates
July 9, 2025At the July Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting, LGL Ecological Research Associates presented the results of a comprehensive commercial Menhaden fishery bycatch study. The Louisiana Legislature directed LDWF to spend up to $1M of the Artificial Reef Fund for an up-to-date, statistically sound bycatch study utilizing modern methods to…
Louisiana Private Recreational Red Snapper Landing Estimates Through June 15
June 30, 2025Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) released the Red Snapper landings estimates through June 15, 2025. LA Creel, LDWF’s near real-time landings data collection program, indicates that 337,690 pounds, or 37.7%, of Louisiana’s 2025 annual private recreational allocation of 894,955 pounds. The private recreational Red Snapper season…
Louisiana Spring Inshore Shrimp Season to Close June 30 in State Inside Waters
June 26, 2025The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2025 spring inshore shrimp season will close at official sunset on Monday, June 30, 2025, 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….