§302.3. Recreational gear license

A. A recreational fisherman must possess, in addition to a basic recreational fishing license, a recreational gear license indicating that the applicable gear fee has been paid, whenever using or possessing on the fishing grounds any gear listed in Subsection B, below.

B. Residents sixteen years of age or older shall pay a gear fee as follows:

(1) Crab traps: fifteen dollars for use of no more than ten crab traps. An amount equal to five dollars from each fee shall be credited to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Account as provided in R.S. 56:10(B)(13). Residents who hold either a Sportsman's Paradise license, R.S. 56:646, or a combination lifetime hunting and sports fishing license, R.S. 56:649.3(B), shall be exempt from the requirements of this Paragraph.

(2) Hoop nets:

(a) Twenty dollars for use of no more than five hoop nets.

(b) Persons with mobility impairments, as defined in R.S. 47:463.4(E), who are bona fide residents and over the age of sixty years may use one hoop net not greater than eighteen feet by eight feet, for the purpose of catching catfish for home consumption only. There shall be no gear fee or license charge, and all such persons must be in possession of valid identification.

(3) Oyster tongs: five dollars for each tong in use.

(4) Slat traps: (a) twenty dollars for use of no more than five slat traps.

(b) Persons with mobility impairments, as defined in R.S. 47:463.4(E), who are bona fide residents and over the age of sixty years, may use one legal size slat trap for the purpose of catching catfish for home consumption only. There shall be no gear fee or license charge and all persons must be in possession of valid identification.

(5) Trawls:

(a) Twenty-five dollars for a trawl not exceeding sixteen feet in length.

(b) Eighty dollars for a trawl exceeding sixteen feet but not exceeding twenty-five feet in length.

NOTE: Subparagraph (B)(5)(c) eff. until July 1, 2020. See Acts 2018, No. 612.

(c) From July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006, in addition to any other fees provided for in this Paragraph, any recreational fisherman who purchases a trawl gear license shall be required to pay an annual fee of ten dollars for residents and fifteen dollars for nonresidents for deposit into the Shrimp Trade Petition Account as provided for in R.S. 56:10(B)(1)(b)(ii). The licensee shall pay the fee required by this Subparagraph only once in any single license year.

NOTE: Subparagraph (B)(5)(c) as repealed by Acts 2018, No. 612, §22, eff. July 1, 2020.

(c) Repealed by Acts 2018, No. 612, §22, eff. July 1, 2020.

(6) Wire nets: twenty dollars for use of no more than five wire nets.

(7) Crawfish traps: Fifteen dollars for use of not more than thirty-five traps. The traps shall be marked with a waterproof tag, provided by the fisherman, with the name and recreational gear license number of the fisherman legibly printed on the tag. The possession of an untagged crawfish trap by a recreational fisherman shall constitute a violation of this Section. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not be applicable to anyone over the age of sixty years. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not be applicable to any person who has been declared permanently disabled by a licensed physician.

(8) Pipes/drums: ten dollars for use of no more than five pipes or five drums.

(9) Buckets/cans: ten dollars for use of no more than five buckets or five cans.

C. The gear fee for nonresidents is four times the gear fee for residents. An amount equal to twenty dollars from each license sold shall be credited to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Account as provided in R.S. 56:10(B)(13).

D. No recreational fisherman shall use gill nets, trammel nets, strike nets, or seines, except bait seines in compliance with R.S. 56:323.

E. A valid recreational gear license may be transferred for temporary use only to a person holding a basic fishing license and having the same residency status as indicated on the license being transferred.

Acts 1986, No. 904, §1; Acts 1987, No. 570, §1, eff. July 9, 1987; Acts 1987, No. 570, §§1, 2, and 3, eff. July 9, 1987; Acts 1987, No. 854, §1; Acts 1988, No. 720, §1, eff. July 18, 1988; Acts 1991, No. 587, §1, eff. July 16, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 256, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 1080, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1316, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1181, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 155, §1, eff. May 7, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 420, §1; Acts 1999, No. 437, §2; Acts 1999, No. 1207, §1; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 1, §4, eff. June 26, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 30, §1, eff. May 24, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 323, §1; Acts 2004, No. 95, §1; Acts 2005, No. 172, §1; Acts 2005, No. 195, §1, eff. July 1, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 37, §1, eff. June 5, 2008; Acts 2014, No. 811, §29, eff. June 23, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 612, §22, eff. July 1, 2020.