Oyster Season

New Oyster Harvest Regulations:

Every vessel harvesting oysters from the Public Oyster Areas for oyster resource shall report harvest information to the LDWF before 9 p.m. each day fished.

Vessels shall provide the following information: Captain’s name, oyster harvester number, vessel number, the total number of sacks harvested that day, total barrels of seed removed, and the LDH Harvest area fished.

Electronic Reporting will be done through the eReporting application via smart phone. The eReporting app is supported by both iOS and Android. Fishermen will need to download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store then create an account using an email. The registration page requires name, commercial fishing license number and type of license to register. Once the account is created, the fisherman will add their vessels.
LDWF Oyster E-Reporting Tutorial and Instructions

For more information, contact Robert Caballero at rcaballero@wlf.la.gov or 504.286.4054

Commercial and recreational oyster seasons are the same. No one may harvest oysters at night (one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise), from public oyster areas nor private leases.

LDWF manages approximately 1.7 million acres of public oyster areas in Louisiana. Every July, LDWF takes a census of the oysters found on public areas. Biologists collect and record data from hundreds of oyster samples across Louisiana’s coast. They use these data to estimate the oyster stock size and recommend when the annual season for public oyster areas should be. This season typically runs from the first Wednesday following Labor Day in September through April 30 of the following year. However, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission can open and close the season when biological data indicate a need. For the most current status, see the information below.

The Louisiana Department of Health may periodically close areas for public health concerns. Check Louisiana Department of Health's website or call 800.256.2775 for more information.

The owner of a private oyster lease or his duly-authorized agents may fish oysters on the lease throughout the year, unless it is closed by LDH.

Current Status of Public Oyster Areas

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind oyster harvesters that the 2024-2025 public oyster season has concluded, and all public oyster areas in Louisiana are currently closed.

MAPS

Area/Public Ground	Season	Limit
Vermilion/East and West Cote Blanche Bay/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds Bedding	Opens September 08, 2025 (Closes April 1, 2026)	No more than 15% of non-living material allowed in bedding loads.
Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation Bedding only	Opens September 29, 2025 (one day only)	No more than 15% of non-living material allowed in bedding loads.
East of MS River, North of MRGO Public Oyster Seed Grounds (LDH Harvest areas 1-2) Bedding only	Opens September 29, 2025 (Closes October 1, 2025)	No more than 15% of non-living material allowed in bedding loads.
Vermilion/East and West Cote Blanche Bay/Atchafalaya Bay Public Oyster Seed Grounds- Sacking	Opens October 13, 2025 (Closes April 1, 2026)	No Daily Limit No possession limit
East of MS River, North of MRGO (LDH Areas 1-4) Sacking	Opens November 03, 2025 (Closes April 1, 2026)	30 sacks/vessel/day* (2-day possession)
East of MS River, South of MRGO (LDH Area 5) Sacking	Opens November 03, 2025 (Closes November 28, 2025)	30 sacks/vessel/day* (2-day possession)
Sister Lake Public Oyster Seed Reservation Sacking	Opens November 03, 2025 (Closes November 14, 2025) _______________ Opens December 10, 2025 (Closes December 29, 2025)	30 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) 30 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession)
Calcasieu Lake (West Cove)	Opens November 1, 2025 (Closes April 30, 2026)	15 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession) **
Calcasieu Lake (East side)	Opens January 1, 2026 (Closes April 30, 2026)	15 sacks/vessel/day (take and possession)**
Hackberry Bay, Lake Mechant, Bay Junop Public Oyster Seed Reservation, Lake Tambour, Lake Chien, Lake Felicity, Deep Lake, Barataria, Little Lake Public Oyster Seed Grounds	Closed - No Season	Closed - No Season

* The possession limit shall be twice the daily limit.

**No more than 15 sacks of oysters per vessel per day for the entire Calcasieu Lake. No scrapers: Tong or hand only.

For more information, contact Robert Caballero at rcaballero@wlf.la.gov or 504-286-4054.