FRESHWATER RECREATIONAL REGULATIONS

2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations (DRAFT)

FISH REGULATIONS

Freshwater Recreational Fishing State Creel & Size Limits


Black Bass (Largemouth, spotted): Ten daily, of any size EXCEPT in specific areas as follows: **

Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Verret-Palourde Area and Lake Fausse Point-Dauterive Area: Ten daily with a minimum total length of 14 inches in area south of U.S. 190 from the West Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee (WABPL) to the intersection of LA 1 and U.S. 190 due north of Port Allen, west of LA 1 from U.S. 190 to LA 20 in Thibodaux, north and west of LA 20 from LA 1 to U.S. 90, north of U.S. 90 from LA 20 to the WABPL, east of the WABPL from U.S. 90 to the Corps of Engineers (COE) Locks on the WABPL at the Charenton Drainage and Navigation Canal (CDNC), north of and including the CDNC from the COE Locks on the WABPL to Highway 87, north and east of Highway 87 from the CDNC to Highway 320, east of Highway 320 from Highway 87 to Highway 86, south and east of Highway 86 from Highway 320 to Highway 345, east of Highway 345 from Highway 86 to Highway 679, south and east of Highway 679 from Highway 345 to Highway 3083, south of Highway 3083 from Highway 679 to the WABPL and east of the WABPL from Highway 3083 to U.S. 190.

Poverty Point Reservoir: Eight daily with protected slot limit of 15-19 inches. No more than one fish may exceed 19 inches in maximum total length.

Toledo Bend Reservoir: Eight daily in aggregate. Largemouth bass minimum total length of 14 inches. Spotted bass no size limit. NOTE: for enforcement purposes, a spotted bass is defined as a black bass with a tooth patch on the tongue.

Eagle Lake: Ten daily with minimum total length of 16 inches.

Caney Creek Lake (Jackson Parish): Eight daily with a protected slot limit* of 15 to 19 inches. No more than two fish may exceed 19 inches maximum total length.

False River (Pointe Coupee Parish): Five daily with a minimum total length of 14 inches.

Spanish Lake (St. Martin and Iberia Parishes): 8 daily with a protected slot limit* of 16 to 21 inches. No more than two fish may exceed 21 inches in maximum total length.

Caddo Lake (Caddo Parish): 10 daily with a protected slot limit* of 14-17 inches, no more than 4 fish may exceed 17 inches maximum total length.

Black Bayou Lake (Bossier Parish), Chicot Lake (Evangeline Parish), Cross Lake (Caddo Parish), Lake Rodemacher (Rapides Parish), John K. Kelly-Grand Bayou Reservoir (Red River Parish) and Vernon Lake (Vernon Parish): 8 daily with a protected slot limit* of 14 to 17 inches. No more than four fish may

exceed 17 inches maximum total length.

* Fish falling within a protected slot limit must be immediately released. To avoid violations, anglers fishing any of these water bodies should contact LDWF for current regulations.

Bowfin (Choupique): 16 inches minimum total length.

Buffalo Fish or their hybrids: 16 inches minimum total length limit, 25 per day under 16 inches. No limit over 16 inches.

Freshwater Drum (Gaspergou): 12 inches minimum total length limit, 25 per day under 12 inches. No limit over 12 inches.

Channel Catfish: 11 inches minimum total length limit (see Catfish below for possession limit).

Blue Catfish: 12 inches minimum total length limit (see Catfish below for possession limit).

Flathead Catfish: 14 inches minimum total length limit (see Catfish below for possession limit).

Catfish (blue, channel and flathead): The possession limit for catfish caught recreationally shall be 100. The 100 fish may be a single species, or a combination of blue, channel or flathead catfish. A recreational fisherman may possess a maximum of 25 undersize catfish of a single or combination of all three species within the 100 fish possession limit. The maximum possession limit for catfish caught in Toledo Bend Reservoir on a recreational license shall be 125 fish which may be any combination of species of catfish. A recreational fisherman may possess on Toledo Bend Reservoir, a maximum of 50 undersize catfish

which may be any combination of species of catfish.

Crappie: 50 daily, EXCEPT for Poverty Point which has a daily limit of 25.

Crawfish: 150 pounds daily.

Paddlefish: two daily. All paddlefish greater than 30 inches (lower jaw fork length) must be returned to the water immediately. The taking or possession of paddlefish is closed in all saltwater areas of the state and in border waters shared with Texas. All possessed paddlefish must be dead. The possession or transportation of live paddlefish is prohibited. All paddlefish possessed on the waters of the state shall be maintained intact. No persons shall possess paddlefish eggs on the waters of the state which are not fully attached to the fish.

Shad: 50 pounds daily.

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass, or any combination thereof: five daily of which no more than two may exceed 30 inches in length.

Sturgeon: No legal harvest or possession.

White Bass: 50 daily EXCEPT for Toledo Bend which has a daily limit of 25.

Yellow Bass: No limit.

Other Freshwater Game Fish: No limit.

Frogs and Turtles: See Reptiles and Amphibians section.

DAILY BAG LIMIT

No person shall take and/or possess in any one day more than the daily bag limit as set by law for any species of fish.

POSSESSION

No person shall have in his possession more than twice the daily bag limit of any kind of freshwater game fish; except that only one day's bag limit of black bass or paddlefish may be in possession while on the water and except that only a one day's bag limit of all species of fish may be in possession while on the water at Toledo Bend Reservoir; and except that the possession limit for catfish is as identified under Catfish; and except that only one day's bag limit of crappie may be in possession while on the water at Poverty Point. All designated freshwater game fish (black bass, striped bass, crappie and bream) caught in any type of recreational or commercial net or trap must be returned immediately to the water from which taken without avoidable injury. All regulations regarding these species apply whether caught in salt or fresh water areas.

SALE OF CERTAIN FRESHWATER FISH PROHIBITED

No person shall purchase, sell, exchange or offer for sale or exchange, or possess or import with intent to sell or exchange any freshwater game fish, or any fish taken recreationally or taken with any recreational gear, including but not limited to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus), shadow bass (Ambloplites ariommus), black or white crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus, P. annularis), white bass (Morone chrysops), yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis), striped bass (Morone

saxatilis), hybrid striped bass (striped bass-white bass cross or striped bass-yellow bass cross), any species of bream (Lepomis spp.), or any other species of freshwater game fish or saltwater game fish.

PROHIBITED FRESHWATER FISHES

No person may possess or sell in this state the following fishes: all species of piranha, tilapia and carp (except koi or common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and goldfish (Carassius auratus)); Rio Grand Cichlid; freshwater electric eel (Electrophorus sp.); rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus); all members of the families Synbranchidae (Asian swamp eels), Channidae (snakeheads), Clariidae (walking catfishes) and Trichomycteridae (pencil catfishes). No fish of any species from outside the state shall be liberated within the state except upon written permission of the Secretary. No fish of any species shall be liberated into state waters without written permission of the Secretary.

Releasing aquarium fishes or unused bait into state waters is illegal.

NOXIOUS AQUATIC PLANTS - IMPORTATION PROHIBITED

No person shall, at any time, knowingly import or cause to be transported into the jurisdiction of the state of Louisiana from any other state or country, without first obtaining a written permit from the Commission, any of the following noxious aquatic plants which are or can be grown submerged or partly submerged, or floating in water. Eichhornia azurea (rooting or anchoring hyacinth), Elodea canadensis (elodea), Hydrilla spp. (hydrilla),

Lagarosiphon muscoides & Lagarosiphon major (African elodea), Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil), Najas marina (marine naiad), Najas minor (slender naiad), Panicum repens (torpedograss), Pontederia spp. (pickerelweed), Spirodela oligorrhiza (giant duckweed), Trapa (waterchestnut), Melaleuca quinquenvia (kapok tree), Pistia stratioties (water lettuce), Salvinia spp. (salvinia), Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth).

NOTICE TO FISHERMEN AND BOATERS: With increasing frequency, introduced aquatic plants are creating serious aquatic habitat problems in many areas of the state. To minimize the spread of these plants in Louisiana waters we recommend the following: check boats (live wells, ice chests, fishing tackle, etc.) and trailers for the presence of aquatic vegetation prior to departing the launch site. If present, we encourage you to remove ALL plant material and dispose of it in a manner that will prevent introduction into other waterbodies.