Photo : Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
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Louisiana
State, United States. Authority : Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
- Licence
- US$68Nonresident Basic Fishing License
- Next opening
- —
- Minimum sizes
- 1
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
Floating Feathered-Hook Lures 7.5 cm, Pack of 9For : european perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass · crankbait and hard-lure fishing
€35.90£21.90Not shipped to the United States
Walk-the-Dog Surface Stickbaits 10 cm 18 g, Pack of 3For : largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike · crankbait and hard-lure fishing
€60.90£43.90Not shipped to the United States
4-Strand PE Braid, Army Green, 300 mFor : northern pike, zander, walleye · spoon and spinner fishing
€27.90£13.90Not shipped to the United States
Where to fish
© OpenStreetMap
2026 season calendar
No statewide closed season for black bass or crappie found in the statewide freshwater creel/size table; no trout season listed (no trout regulations in the freshwater table).
Solid bars: fishing allowed. Yellow line: today.
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–60 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, spotted)5 No statewide size limit; waterbody exceptions (e.g. 12 in minimum and 5/day in the Lower Atchafalaya Basin area from 2026-08-01) | not published |
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Black bass (combined)3 Statewide daily take set by Commission rule LAC 76:VII.149 (statute RS 56:325 lists 15 but the Commission may amend by rule); possession: 1x daily on water, 2x off water | 10 per day |
| Crappie (sac-a-lait)5 Possession 100; 25/day on Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, Poverty Point, Sabine River | 50 per day |
| Striped / hybrid striped bass5 No more than two over 30 in | 5 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Basic Fishing License1 | annual (365 days from purchase) | US$17 |
| Resident Basic Fishing License (all legal freshwater gear)1 | annual | US$17 |
| Resident Hook and Line License (pole, hook and line only)1 | annual | US$5 |
| Resident Saltwater Fishing License (add-on)1 | annual | US$15 |
| Nonresident Basic Fishing License1 | annual | US$68 |
| Nonresident Five-day Basic Fishing License1 | 5-day | US$30 |
| Nonresident Saltwater Fishing License1 | annual | US$60 |
| Charter boat three-day freshwater fishing license (charter passengers)1 | 3-day | US$2.50 |
Buy the licence on louisianaoutdoors.com
- Ages and exemptions4
- Anglers under 18 (17 and under) do not need a fishing license. Residents born before June 1, 1940 need a no-fee Resident Senior Hunt/Fish License (required to fish border waters).
Good to know
No walleye/pike fisheries regulated statewide. Black bass: 10/day statewide, no statewide size limit; new 12 in minimum and 5/day in the Lower Atchafalaya Basin, Grassy Lake, Lake Palourde, Lake Verrett from 2026-08-01. Saltwater license required in addition to basic license to fish saltwater.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- wlf.louisiana.gov bloqué par un CAPTCHA AWS WAF : pages licences et PDF 26LAFW.pdf non lus directement ; prix tirés de la loi RS 56:3001 (legis.la.gov) et limites de l'édition eRegulations du guide LDWF 2026
- pas de licence journalière (1-day) non-résident dans RS 56:3001 (seulement 5 jours à 30 $) ; option 3 jours non-résident évoquée par louisianaoutdoors.com non vérifiée (403)
- pas de licence résident journalière trouvée
- tarif senior (60+ nés après le 01/06/1940) non vérifié sur source officielle
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Where to fish
Fishing places listed in the official sources.
- Atchafalaya Basin lake
Largemouth bass View on the map - Toledo Bend Reservoir reservoir
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, Bluegill View on the map - Big Mar - Caernarvon lake
Largemouth bass, Bluegill View on the map - Grand Lake lake
Channel catfish View on the map - Caddo Lake lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, Bluegill View on the map - Lake Bistineau lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, Bluegill View on the map - Fausse Point/Dauterive/Catahoula Complex lake
Largemouth bass, Bluegill View on the map - D'Arbonne Lake lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish View on the map - Lake Salvador lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, Bluegill View on the map - Verret, Grassy, Palourde lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish View on the map - Black - Clear Lake lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, Bluegill View on the map - Lake Des Allemands lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish, Bluegill View on the map - Red River Pool 5 lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish View on the map - Cross Lake lake
Largemouth bass, Channel catfish View on the map - Saline Lake lake
Largemouth bass, Bluegill View on the map
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in Louisiana in 2026?
The “Nonresident Basic Fishing License” licence costs US$68 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
Official sources
- Louisiana RS 56:3001 - Recreational fishing licenses; fees (Louisiana State Legislature) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Louisiana RS 56:325 - Daily take, possession and size limits; freshwater recreational fish (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- LAC 76:VII.149 Black Bass Regulations (LII reproduction of Louisiana Administrative Code) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations - License information (eRegulations edition of the LDWF guide) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- 2026 Louisiana Recreational Fishing Regulations - Freshwater creel & size limits (eRegulations edition) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Regulations/26LAFW.pdf
Last checked : 23 September 2026.