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Recreational Saltwater Bowfishing Permit
A free Bowfishing Permit is required for anglers aged 18 years and older taking or attempting to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear or engaging in bowfishing activity south of the designated saltwater line.
A free Bowfishing Permit is required for anglers aged 18 years and older taking or attempting to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear or engaging in bowfishing activity south of the designated saltwater line.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GET A BOWFISHING PERMIT IF:
- You are a client on a bowfishing charter trip
- You are under the age of 18 years
- You are engaging in spearfishing activities
If you have any questions or experience any issues, please email rolp@wlf.la.gov or call 225-763-5488. We will respond to emails/calls during regular business hours.
Charter captains, including those fishing from vessels with a valid federal charter/headboat permit, are required to have a valid Charter Bowfishing Permit to take clients on bowfishing trips. A Charter Bowfishing Permit covers all paying anglers on a charter trip. A Charter Bowfishing Permit is also valid for the captain on any private, recreational bowfishing trips he may take. Charter captains should only register for a Charter Bowfishing Permit if they take clients on bowfishing trips. Charter captains who only go on private bowfishing trips (trips on which they are not acting as a captain/guide) should register for a private recreational Bowfishing Permit using their recreational fishing license. No person should have both a private recreational and a Charter Bowfishing Permit at the same time.
Get a Bowfishing Permit
You can obtain, view, or renew a Bowfishing Permit online only. (If you're using Internet Explorer above version 8.0, you may experience issues. If so, try an alternate browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.) The Bowfishing Permit is not available through LDWF's license sales webpage or at any retail vendor. To register, you will need to have your LDWF Saltwater, Lifetime Fishing, Lifetime Hunting/Fishing, or Charter/Guide license number. If you do not know your 10-digit Lifetime Hunting/Fishing license number, you can look it up on our LDWF's recreational licensing site. You will also need a working email address.
If you have any questions or experience any issues, please send an email to rolp@wlf.la.gov or call 225-763-5488. We will respond to emails/calls during regular business hours.
Bowfishing Permit Frequently Asked Questions
A Bowfishing Permit is a free permit that is required in addition to all other applicable licenses and/or permits to anyone taking or attempting to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear or engaging in bowfishing activity south of the designated saltwater line.
LDWF developed the Bowfishing Permit to help define the universe of anglers participating in bowfishing activity for saltwater species in order to potentially derive estimates of the proportion of harvest of recreationally important saltwater species from this activity, which occurs mainly at night and outside of our normal creel activity.
No
Yes. When registering for a Bowfishing Permit, you must input your date of birth for verification of age prior to adding a permit to your account.
You should select 'Charter' as the license type.
No. The charter captain is required to have a Charter Bowfishing Permit, which covers all clients onboard.
If you take clients on saltwater Bowfishing trips, then yes, you need a Charter Bowfishing Permit. A Charter Bowfishing Permit will cover you on any private trips you may take. Use your Charter (Guide) license number to register.
If you will not take clients on saltwater Bowfishing trips and will go on private Bowfishing trips, you need a regular Bowfishing Permit. Use your Private angler (LDWF) license number to register.
No. Register for a Bowfishing Permit only if you are planning to go on a private, recreational bowfishing trip. If you do not bowfish at all, bowfish above the designated saltwater line, or only go bowfishing on charter trips as a client, you do NOT need a Bowfishing Permit.
No, each permit holder will need to have their own account.
Go to the account dashboard on our recrational fishing license site. Log in using your social security number or driver's license number to find your LDWF license number.
No, enter the 10-digit LDWF license number without dashes.
Enter your LDWF Lifetime License number as 10 digits by using leading zeros prior to your LDWF Lifetime License number.
Log-in to your account using your license number and date of birth. Once you're logged into your account, click the "Account Settings" (gear icon) to edit your email or password.
Once you're logged into your account, click the "Angler Profile" button to edit your mailing address.
Yes, you must have a printed or electronic copy of your Bowfishing Permit in your possession while fishing.
No.
Yes. It will appear under the LDWF license tab.