Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

Size and Take Limits
Commercial fishermen must return all undersized
fish to waters without injury. Any commercial species
upon which there is no specified size limit may be
taken in any size and quantity.
Five percent of each species of commercial fish by
number may be smaller than the legal limit, EXCEPT
channel catfish of which 10 percent by number may be
smaller than the legal limit.
Commercial fishermen, wholesale/retail seafood
dealers, retail seafood dealers, restaurants or retail grocers
shall not sell, purchase, barter, trade or exchange
or attempt to sell, purchase, barter, trade or exchange
undersized fish.
Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
12 inches minimum total length.
Buffalo (Ictiobus spp.)
16 inches minimum total length.
Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
11 inches minimum total length, 8 inches collar boned.
Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
14 inches minimum total length.
Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
12 inches minimum total length.
Bowfin (Amia calva)
22 inches minimum total length. Fishermen are prohibited,
while on the water, from possessing bowfin
eggs (roe) that are not naturally connected to a whole
fish. The taking of bowfin with nets or bowfin body
parts, including eggs (roe), is prohibited during the
months of December, January and February, EXCEPT
in Assumption, Avoyelles, Iberville, Pointe Coupee,
Terrebonne, Tangipahoa and West Baton Rouge parishes
and in the areas know as Bayou Courtableau,
Bayou Teche, Lake Dauterive, Lake Fausse Point,
Vermilion River, Carencro Bayou, Queue de Tortue
Bayou, Bayou Nez Pique, Mermentau River, Bayou
Lacassine, Sabine River and the Atchafalaya Basin
Floodway that is bounded by the East and West levees
of the Atchafalaya Basin and is south of U.S. Highway
190.
Mullet
May be taken in hoop nets in the freshwater areas of
the state. Mullet taken in freshwater may not be possessed
in saltwater, at night, or taken with a hoop net
with leads on it.
Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
Commonly called spoonbill catfish. Taking or possession
of whole or any body parts, including roe (eggs)
is prohibited.
Pallid, Atlantic and Shovelnose
Sturgeon
Taking or possession of whole or any body parts,
including roe is prohibited.
Frogs
See Reptiles and Amphibians section.
Additional Gear Restrictions
Black Lake/Clear Lake/Prairie Lake
No yo-yo or trigger device with a hook in the water
may be left unattended between two hours after official
sunrise and one-half hour after official sunset. The
device will be considered unattended if the user cannot
be located and identified within the immediate vicinity
of the device. Hoop nets and wire nets must be marked
with a waterproof tag with the name and address of the
fisherman and his fishing license number.
Bogue Chitto River
The use of seines, nets and webbing for the taking
of fish in Bogue Chitto River from where it enters the
state in the northern part of Washington Parish to
where it enters into the Pearl River in St. Tammany
Parish is prohibited. The taking of fish from logs,
buckets, barrels, drums or natural or artificial nesting
areas by hand grabbing is also prohibited in this area.
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Lake Bruin
The use of fish nets in Lake Bruin is prohibited
EXCEPT that a special recurring commercial fishing
season allowing the use of gill and trammel nets greater
than or having at least a minimum of three and onehalf
inch bar and seven inches stretched, and allowing
the use of slat traps is permitted. The season commences
each year at sunrise on Nov. 1 and closes at
sunset on the last day of February the following year.
Commercial fishermen must obtain a Lake Bruin
Commercial Fishing Permit in order to participate in
this special season. The permit is issued at no cost on
a seasonal basis and must be renewed for each season.
Please contact the Baton Rouge Office for more information.
The permittee must also file a report to LDWF
of his catch no later than 15 days following the closure
of the season. Commercial fishing will be allowed
only during daylight hours except that gear can remain
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