Basic Commercial Fishing Regulations - Gulf States Marine ...

Licenses are required for all persons
taking or possessing fish.
Recreational Licenses
All recreational licenses are valid
from the date of purchase and expire
on June 30 each year. New year
licenses begin selling June 1 each
year. In addition to other bona fide
residency requirements, a Louisiana
driver’s license or Louisiana ID Card
(LA ID accepted only from persons
who do not drive) issued by the
Department of Public Safety is
required to purchase resident recreational
hunting and fishing licenses.
Persons who obtain resident
licenses when not complying with the
bona fide residency requirements as
stated in the definition section (page
13) will be subject to criminal and/or
civil sanctions.
Title 56, Section 302.1.C.(1)
requires that all recreational anglers
fishing south of the “saltwater line”
for saltwater species have in their
possession a Louisiana saltwater
angler’s license IN ADDITION TO a
basic Louisiana fishing license
EXCEPT those persons otherwise
exempted. (See Exceptions and
Exemptions) All regulations apply
regardless of where the fish is taken.
A recreational fisherman must
purchase and have in possession a
valid basic recreational fishing license
to possess fish in Louisiana waters or
to use the following:
1. Bow and arrow
2. A barbed or barbless spear
3. Frog gig/catcher
4. Scuba Gear
5. Hook and Line (trot line)
6. Cast net with a radius not to
exceed 8 ft. 6 in.
7. Rod and Reel
MILITARY Recreational
Licenses
Any person who possesses a military
identification card that signifies
that he is currently on active duty with
any one of the armed forces of the
United States, including the National
Guard, or the spouse or dependent of
such person, may be issued a license
for hunting or recreational fishing in
Louisiana for the same fee as that
required of Louisiana residents.
License Details
Military licenses are valid only during
that time when the licensee is on
active duty in the armed forces of
the United States. The military identification
card or dependent card and
the appropriate license must be on the
licensee’s person at all times when he
is engaged in hunting and fishing
activities.
Any Louisiana resident who submits
proof of his status as a member of
the Louisiana National Guard or any
reserve component of the United
States armed forces may purchase in
lieu of basic and saltwater fishing,
basic hunting, big game, bow, primitive
firearms, LA duck, turkey and
WMA hunting permit, a license for
$50 to fish and hunt in Louisiana.
Submit completed application with a
copy of the applicant’s:
1. Louisiana drivers license;
2. military identification card;
3. original letter from their commanding
officer verifying that
they are in “good standing” with
the Louisiana National Guard or
United States armed forces; and
4. money order for $50.
Mail to: LDWF, Attention Sports
License, P.O. Box 98000, Baton
Rouge, LA 70898. The application
form is available online at:
www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses or by
calling 225-765-2887.
LIFETIME LICENSES
Lifetime Licenses are issued in
lieu of Basic Fishing, Saltwater
Fishing, Basic Hunting, Big Game,
Bow, Primitive Firearms, LA Duck,
Turkey and WMA hunting permit.
Applications are accepted by
mail or in person at the Baton Rouge
office only. Allow three weeks processing
time. Lifetime license applications
do not authorize hunting or
fishing prior to receipt of the license
document. The original license document
must be in licensee’s possession
to legally hunt or fish. Applicants
are required to have lived in Louisiana
for the immediate 12 months prior to
making application to qualify for resident
rates. Mandatory documents
required with completed application
are a valid Louisiana driver’s license
issued a minimum of 12 months (no
substitutions) AND ONE OF THE
FOLLOWING:
1. Louisiana voter’s registration
card
2. Louisiana vehicle registration
3. Two previous years state tax filing,
stamped by Department of
Revenue & Taxation.
RECREATIONAL GEAR
LICENSES
Recreational anglers ages 16 and
over using any of the recreational
gear must, in addition to their basic
fishing license, purchase the applicable
gear license. If fishing in saltwater
areas of the state, a saltwater fishing
license is also required. Lifetime
fishing license holders must also purchase
a gear license to use recreational
gear.
Exceptions &
Exemptions
Persons younger than 16 years of
age and residents who were born
prior to June 1, 1940 and have lived
in the state for two years prior to
application are not required to obtain
the following licenses: Basic and
Saltwater Fishing; Basic Hunting;
Big Game; Bow; Primitive Firearms;
LA Duck license or Turkey Stamp.
Persons younger than 18 years of age
are not required to have a WMA hunting
permit. PROOF OF AGE MUST
BE CARRIED ON PERSON.
Texas Reciprocal
Louisiana resident seniors, 65 years
of age and older, that hold a Louisiana
Fishing license are not required to
purchase a Texas non-resident license
to fish public waters in Texas, but
shall comply with Texas law.
Louisiana resident anglers that
reached age 60 before June 1, 2000
are required to possess a Louisiana
fishing license when fishing in Texas,
except in border waters. Louisiana
residents from 17 to 64 years of age
are required to purchase a non-resident
fishing license when fishing in
Texas, except when fishing in border
waters.
Except for the Gulf of Mexico,
Texas and Louisiana anglers possessing
the necessary resident licenses, or
those exempted from resident licens-
Licenses
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