Today, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) released the Red Snapper landings estimates through August 31, 2025. LA Creel, LDWF's near real-time, landings data collection program, indicates that 788,014 pounds, or 88.1%, of Louisiana's 2025 annual private recreational allocation of 894,955 pounds.
The private recreational Red Snapper season began May 1 in both state and federal waters, running seven days a week with a daily bag limit of four fish per person and a 16-inch total length minimum size limit. The season will remain open until recreational landings approach or reach Louisiana's allocation.
Resident and Non-Resident Recreational Anglers:
- Must possess valid Louisiana basic and Saltwater Recreational Fishing Licenses and a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) (no fee) to fish for or possess Red Snapper, and other offshore and reef fish species.
- Anglers get a ROLP via the ROLP website.
- Once anglers have registered, they can save an electronic copy on their mobile device or print a copy of the ROLP indicating their valid ROLP and carry it on their person along with applicable licenses while fishing offshore. ROLPs are also displayed on LA Wallet.
State For-Hire Charter Vessels:
- State for-hire charter captains (those who do not have a federal Gulf of America charter/headboat permit for reef fish) are not allowed to fish in waters beyond 9 nautical miles.
- Must also possess a ROLP (no fee) to fish for or possess Red Snapper, as well as other offshore and reef fish species.
- May only fish for Red Snapper in state waters (within the 9 nautical miles state water boundary), when the Louisiana recreational Red Snapper season is open.
Federal For-Hire Charter Vessels:
- Vessels with federal reef fish for-hire permits will remain under federal regulations and may only fish during the federal season, which will open June 1.
- May only fish in federal waters during the federal for-hire season – June 1 through September 16.
- If a federal for-hire charter captain also holds a Louisiana charter license, he/she may also fish state waters, but only when the federal for-hire charter season overlaps with the Louisiana season. When the federal for-hire season closes, the federal for-hire captain may not fish state waters.
LDWF encourages anglers to reduce barotrauma while fishing for Red Snapper and other reef fish by using descending devices to return fish to a survivable depth before being released. Please see the LDWF barotrauma website for more information. Federal regulations require that anglers have a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready for use while fishing for reef fish in federal waters.
Visit the 2025 Red Snapper season webpage for detailed landing estimates.