§325. Daily take, possession, and size limits; freshwater recreational fish; possession of finfish filets prohibited

A. No person shall take in any one day more than the following of each species of fish, of the designated size where specified:

(1) Black bass (Micropterus spp.), or their hybrids--fifteen.

(2) White bass (Morone chrysops), also locally called barfish--fifty.

(3) Yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis)--fifty.

(4) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis), or their hybrids, in particular hybrid striped bass (white bass x striped bass), or any combination thereof--five, of which not more than two may exceed thirty inches total length.

(5) Crappie (Pomoxis spp.), or their hybrids, also locally called white perch or sac-a-lait--fifty.

(6) Buffalo fish (Ictiobus spp.), or their hybrids - minimum size sixteen inches total length - twenty-five.

(7) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), also locally called gaspergou - minimum size twelve inches total length - twenty-five.

(8) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) - minimum size twelve inches total length.

(9) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) - minimum size eleven inches total length.

(10) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), also locally called spotted catfish, yellow catfish, or opelousas cat - minimum size fourteen inches total length.

(11) Shad (Dorosoma spp.) - maximum allowance of fifty pounds.

(12) Crawfish - one hundred fifty pounds.

(13) Repealed by Acts 2013, No. 334, §2.

B.(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, no person shall have in his possession more than twice the number of fish specified in any paragraph of Subsection A of this Section.

(2) The possession limit for catfish caught on a recreational license shall be one hundred. The one hundred fish possessed may be a single species or any combination of blue, channel, or flathead catfish. In addition, a recreational fisherman shall be allowed a daily possession limit of twenty-five undersize catfish, either a single species or any combination of blue, channel, or flathead catfish.

(3) The possession limit for crappie caught in Toledo Bend Reservoir on a recreational license shall be one hundred fish.

(4) The possession limit for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) taken south of U.S. Highway 90 shall be three times the daily take limit when the fisherman holds and is in possession of a valid recreational fishing license and can show a landing receipt from a public boat launch located south of U.S. Highway 90 that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the fisherman has been actively on the water or at a remote camp that can be accessed only by water for two days or more. The fish shall be kept whole or whole gutted in separate bags for each species of fish. The bags shall be marked with the date the fish were taken, the species, the number of fish contained in the bag, and the name and license number of the person taking the fish. The fish shall only be in the possession of the person who took the fish. However, no fisherman shall be actively fishing or engaged in fishing while in possession of more than the daily take limit.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commission may amend by rule, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, size limits, daily take limits, possession limits, seasons, and times set by law for freshwater recreational fish. Such limits, seasons, and times may vary between and among waterbodies based on biological data or for purposes of research or experimentation. However, the commission shall not amend by rule the provisions of Paragraph (A)(5) of this Section as it applies to Lake D'Arbonne, unless the department first conducts sampling, and collects and analyzes the data on the fisheries resource in Lake D'Arbonne and the sampling, data, and analysis demonstrate that the fisheries resource is being negatively impacted, and the department recommends that the provisions of Paragraph (A)(5) of this Section be amended by rule.

D. Except as provided in this Subsection, no person shall possess any filleted fish while aboard a vessel on the water. However, for the purpose of fish consumption on the water aboard the harvesting vessel, a person shall have no more than two pounds of finfish filets per person on board the vessel, provided that the vessel is equipped to cook such finfish and such finfish does not exceed the applicable take limit.

E. Violation of any of the provisions of this Section constitutes a class two violation.

Acts 1974, No. 223, §1. Amended by Acts 1974, No. 510, §1; Acts 1978, No. 448, §1; Acts 1980, No. 604, §1; Acts 1982, No. 313, §1; Acts 1988, No. 86, §1; Acts 1989, No. 487, §1, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 488, §1, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1992, No. 528, §1, eff. June 29, 1992; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 155, §1, eff. May 7, 1998; Acts 1999, No. 155, §1; Acts 2004, No. 237, §1, eff. June 15, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 23, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2013, No. 334, §§1, 2; Acts 2014, No. 336, §1; Acts 2014, No. 389, §1; Acts 2018, No. 40, §1, eff. May 10, 2018.