RECREATIONAL LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
by Jerald Horst
(Revised July 2005)
With only
a few exceptions, all fishing activities in Louisiana require
some sort of license. All recreational licenses, including
gear licenses, expire June 30 each year. Fishermen must possess
a valid original license and produce it at the request of
an enforcement officer. No licenses are transferable, except
for recreational gear licenses, which may be transferred to
and used by anyone possessing a valid basic fishing license.
Resident license requirements are as follows.
Basic
Fishing License This $9.50 license allows the use of a rod
and reel, bow and arrow, barbless spear (for some species),
frog gig or grab, scuba gear, handline, trotlines, cast net
(8 1/2-ft. radius and smaller), dip net, minnow trap, and
bait seine in legally defined freshwater areas. In the legally
defined saltwater areas of the state, the basic fishing license
may be used to fish for and keep freshwater fish, but not
saltwater species. Non-resident fees are $1 for a 1-day license,
$15 for a 4-day license, and $60 for a season license.
Saltwater
Angler's License This $5.50 license must be purchased to fish
for and keep saltwater species of fish. This license also
allows the use of cast nets of 8 1/2-ft. radius or smaller
in saltwater areas. It must be purchased in addition to the
basic fishing license. Non-resident fees are $15 for a 1-day
license, $45 for a 4-day license and $50 for a season license.
Hook and
Line License This license, also known as the cane pole license,
costs $2.50. It may be purchased instead of a basic fishing
license by fishermen who use only a pole without a reel and
without artificial bait. It is not available for nonresidents.
Senior
License Residents who reached age 60 on or after June 1, 2000
are required to purchase this $5.00 license which covers both
fishing and hunting, including hunting on wildlife management
areas (WMA). People who turned 60 before June 1, 2000, need
no license to recreationally fish or hunt, but must possess
proof of age and identity.
Louisiana
Sportsmen's Paradise License This $100 license for Louisiana
residents covers all recreational privileges, including gear
licenses except 16-25 foot trawls) and WMA hunting.
Lifetime
Licenses These are permanent licenses valid for the life of
the holder and apply to saltwater as well as freshwater fishing.
Lifetime licenses do not cover recreational gear license requirements.
Senior lifetime licenses for people who reached 60 on or after
June 1, 200 cost $50. Other lifetime licenses cost from $200
to $500 depending on the applicant's age and whether hunting
is included in the license.
Active Military Hunting/Fishing License Louisiana residents
on active military duty, including National Guardsmen on active
duty, can purchase this $5 license. This license substitutes
for the basic and saltwater fishing licenses, basic hunting,
big game, bow, muzzleloader and waterfowl licenses, turkey
hunting stamps and WMA hunting permits. Non-resident fees
are $9.50 for basic fishing and $5.50 for saltwater fishing.
Louisiana
Disabled Fishing and Saltwater Angler's Licenses Residents
who are totally and permanently disabled and receiving disability
retirement benefits may purchase these licenses for $2.50
each in lieu of the Basic Fishing and Saltwater Angler's licenses.
Charter
passenger License Residents and non-residents who fish on
a boat with a licensed saltwater charter guide may purchase
this license for $5, which is valid for 3 consecutive days.
Non-Resident
Charter Skiff License Non-residents fishing under the direction
of a charter operation in a licensed charter skiff in saltwater
areas of the state may purchase this 3-day license at a cost
of $30.00. It is valid for three consecutive days.
Possession
of a basic fishing license is required of anyone 16 years
old or older to purchase a gear license. Anyone younger than
16 is not required to purchase or possess a gear license.
No recreational gear licenses exist for wing nets, skimmers,
oyster dredges, saltwater strike nets, or freshwater gill
nets, trammel nets, and seines. Commercial fishing licenses
are required to fish these gear types and other commercial
gars not specifically licensed with recreational gear licenses.
Hoop nets and wire nets (similar to hoop nets but stretched
over a wire frame) may be recreationally licensed for the
area north of Interstate Hwy. 12 from Ragley to the Texas
state line. A single hoop net may also be used without a license
by mobility-impaired residents over the age of 60 who possess
valid identification.
