Louisiana Fishing Regulations: Bag Limits, Size Limits and Seasons

These are the statewide daily bag limits and length limits Louisiana anglers work under, taken from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) guide for January 1 to December 31, 2026. Statewide means the default: most states, Louisiana included, override these on specific lakes, rivers and coastal zones, so treat this page as the baseline and the official guide as the rule for the water you are standing on.

Louisiana has no closed season on freshwater game fish. The one date every coastal angler has to know is the southern flounder closure: no possession from October 15 through November 30. Red snapper and other reef fish run on announced federal and state season dates. You will still need the Louisiana fishing license, which runs $17 for residents and $68 for non-residents; the Louisiana fishing license page covers short-term options, exemptions and where to buy.

AgencyLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
Regulation yearJanuary 1 to December 31, 2026
Free fishingFree Fishing Weekend is June 6-7, 2026. No basic fishing license needed that weekend; size, bag and possession limits still apply.
Official regulation guide License cost

Limits last verified 2026-09-16.

Louisiana freshwater bag and length limits

Statewide freshwater limits. Water-specific exceptions in the official guide take precedence.
Species Daily bag Length
Black bass (largemouth and spotted)Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake, Poverty Point, False River and Bussey Brake each carry their own slot or minimum. 10 combined None statewide
Striped and hybrid striped bassNo more than 2 over 30 inches. 5 combined None
White bass25 on Caddo Lake, the Sabine River and Toledo Bend. 50 None
Crappie (white and black, sac-a-lait)Possession limit 100. Several lakes drop to 25 daily or add a 10-11 in. minimum. 50 combined None statewide
Sunfish (bream)Bussey Brake is capped at 50 daily. No limit None
Yellow bass 50 None
Catfish (blue, channel, flathead)No more than 25 undersized fish of the three species combined. 100 combined Blue 12 in., channel 11 in., flathead 14 in. minimum
Freshwater drum (gaspergou) 25 12 in. minimum
Buffalo 25 16 in. minimum
Bowfin (choupique) No limit 16 in. minimum
PaddlefishNo snagging; no harvest on Texas boundary waters or below the saltwater line. 2 30 in. maximum lower jaw fork length

Louisiana saltwater limits

Headline coastal species. Federal waters and species with quotas can close mid-season; check the official saltwater guide before a trip.
Species Daily bag Length
Red drum (redfish)Nothing over 27 inches may be kept. Charter captain and crew cannot retain fish. 4 18-27 in. slot
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)No more than 2 over 20 inches. 15 13-20 in. slot
Southern flounderNo possession October 15 through November 30. 10 None
Black drumNo more than 1 over 27 inches. 5 16-27 in. slot
Spanish mackerel 15 12 in. fork length minimum
King mackerel 3 24 in. fork length minimum

Saltwater source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries saltwater regulations.

How to read a bag limit

A daily bag limit is the number of that species one angler may keep in a day, and in most states also the number you may have in possession on the water. Where a row says "combined", the number is shared across every species named in it. A minimum length is measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the tail with the tail pinched; a slot means fish inside the range must go back. When a lake has its own rule in the official guide, that rule replaces the statewide one for that water only.

Related: the Louisiana fishing license page for the fee and where to buy, non-resident fishing license fees across states, and fishing regulations for every state.

Frequently asked questions

What is the bass limit in Louisiana?

Statewide, Louisiana allows 10 combined black bass (largemouth and spotted) per day, with a length rule of none statewide. Toledo Bend, Caddo Lake, Poverty Point, False River and Bussey Brake each carry their own slot or minimum. Individual lakes often carry a different slot or minimum, so check the water-specific exceptions in the official guide.

How many crappie can you keep in Louisiana?

The statewide daily limit is 50 combined, size rule none statewide. Possession limit 100. Several lakes drop to 25 daily or add a 10-11 in. minimum.

What is the catfish limit in Louisiana?

Catfish (blue, channel, flathead): 100 combined per day, blue 12 in., channel 11 in., flathead 14 in. minimum. No more than 25 undersized fish of the three species combined.

Is there a closed season for fishing in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no closed season on freshwater game fish. The one date every coastal angler has to know is the southern flounder closure: no possession from October 15 through November 30. Red snapper and other reef fish run on announced federal and state season dates.

When can you fish without a license in Louisiana?

Free Fishing Weekend is June 6-7, 2026. No basic fishing license needed that weekend; size, bag and possession limits still apply.

Do I need a license to fish in Louisiana?

Yes for most adults. The annual Louisiana fishing license costs $17 for residents and $68 for non-residents. Basic Fishing License covers all legal recreational freshwater gear only. A separate Saltwater License is required to fish saltwater or possess saltwater species: $15 for residents, $60 for non-residents, and it requires the Basic license as a prerequisite. Residents and non-residents under 18 are exempt from needing a Basic or Saltwater license. See the Louisiana fishing license page for short-term options and where to buy.

Where do these Louisiana limits come from?

Every figure on this page was read from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) regulation guide for January 1 to December 31, 2026 and last checked on 2026-09-16. The guide, not this page, is the legal document. Use the official source link above before you keep a fish.