Who Needs a License?
- Anglers 16 years of age or older who take or possess fish in Louisiana waters must possess a fishing license.
Recreational fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased by phone toll-free at 1-888-765-2602 or online at www.la.wildlifelicense.com
| Resident | Non-Resident | |
| Basic Fishing License | $9.50 | $60.00 |
| Saltwater License (Basic Fishing required) | $13.00 | $30.00 |
| Basic Fish Trip - 1 day | $5.00 | |
| Saltwater Trip - 1 day | $17.50 | |
| Hook and Line (cane pole) | $2.50 | |
| Charter Passenger License (3-day)1 | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Charter Skiff (3-day)2 | $30.00 | |
| LA Sportsman’s Paradise License3 | $100.00 | |
| Senior Fish/Hunt4 | $5.00 | |
| Non-Resident Student Basic Fishing5 | $9.50 | |
| NR Student Saltwater Fishing(Basic Fishing required)5 | $5.50 | |
| Resident Disabled Basic Fishing6 | $2.50 | |
| Resident Disabled Saltwater6 | $2.50 | |
| Offshore Landing Permit7 | Free | Free |
| Military | ||
| Active Military Basic Fishing | $9.50 | $9.50 |
| Active Military Saltwater | $5.50 | $5.50 |
| Resident LA National Guard Fish/Hunt | $50.00 | |
| Resident/Native Retired Military Hunt/Fish | $5.00 | |
| Resident Surviving Spouse Killed in Action Fish | $2.50 | |
| Fishing Gear | ||
| Slat Traps (limit 5) | $20.00 | $80.00 |
| Trawls - up to 16 feet | $25.00 | $100.00 |
| Trawls - 16 feet to 25 feet | $80.00 | $320.00 |
| Oyster Tong (per tong) | $5.00 | $20.00 |
| Crawfish Traps (limit 35) | $15.00 | $60.00 |
| Pipes/Drums (limit 5) | $10.00 | $40.00 |
| Cans/Buckets (limit 5) | $10.00 | $40.00 |
| Wire Nets (limit 5)8 | $20.00 | $80.00 |
| Hoop Nets (limit 5)8 | $20.00 | $80.00 |
| Crab Traps (limit 10) | $15.00 | $60.00 |
- Valid to fish from a charter vessel in saltwater areas of the state, with a licensed guide on board at all times.
- Valid to fish under the direction of a charter operation in a licensed charter skiff in saltwater areas of the state.
- Sportsman’s Paradise License: Includes Basic and Saltwater Fishing, Basic and Big Game Hunting, Bow, Primitive Firearms, Turkey, LA Duck and WMA Hunting Permit, and all recreational gear licenses (EXCEPT recreational trawls greater than 16 feet in length).
- Senior Fish/Hunt License: Any resident who reached age 60 on June 1, 2000 or later must obtain a Senior Hunt/Fish License to hunt or fish. This license is in lieu of basic and saltwater fishing, basic hunting, big game, bow, primitive firearms, LA duck license, turkey stamp and WMA hunting permit. It does not include special gear such as trawls, crab traps, crawfish traps, hoop nets, etc.
- NR Student: Applies to a nonresident who is enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited college, university or high school that has a physical campus in Louisiana. Verification of full-time status on the Department form available at http://wlf.la.gov/licenses. Any person fishing under a “student license” must carry valid student I.D. card indicating current full time status while hunting or fishing.
- LA Disabled Fishing and Saltwater
- Recreational Offshore Landing Permit
- Recreational wire and hoop nets shall be used only in the geographical areas of the state designated as freshwater.
Lifetime Licenses
| Lifetime Fishing (5-13 years old) | $200 |
| Lifetime Fishing (14 years and older) | $300 |
| Lifetime Hunt/Fish (0-4 years old) | $200 |
| Lifetime Hunt/Fish (5-13 years old) | $300 |
| Lifetime Hunt/Fish (14 years and older) | $500 |
| NR Lifetime Hunt/Fish | $3,000 |
| Lifetime ResidentSenior Hunt/Fish (60 or older) | $50 |
| Lifetime Fishing Gear | 10 times annual fee per gear type |
Lifetime fishing licenses include both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
Lifetime licenses are available from the Baton Rouge office only. Allow three weeks processing time. Applicants are required to have lived in Louisiana for the immediate 6 months prior to applying to qualify for resident rates. Mandatory documents required with application are a valid LA driver’s license issued a minimum of 6 months and one of the following:
- Louisiana voter’s registration card
- Louisiana vehicle registration or
- Two previous year’s state tax filing, stamped by Department of Revenue and Taxation.
Applications available at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses/lifetime/ or by calling 225-765-2887.
Recreational fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased by phone toll-free at 1-888-765-2602 or online at www.la.wildlifelicense.com or at many local retailers.
Methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or E-check. An authorization number for immediate use will be provided. A handling fee is assessed for phone and online purchases.
About The License
Recreational licenses are valid from the date of purchase, are available for purchase each June 1 and expire June 30 of the following year.
To obtain licenses at resident rates, proof of residency is required. Valid forms of I.D. include:
- Louisiana driver’s license
- Louisiana ID card (issued by the Department of Public Safety)
Recreational licenses that are purchased via mobile device (smart phone, laptop, tablet, etc.) will not receive a license in the mail. You will receive a text with a temporary authorization number and an e-mail with the temporary authorization number and a PDF of your licenses which can be saved and printed.
Who Needs a License?
- Anglers 16 years of age or older who take or possess fish in Louisiana waters must possess a fishing license.
Who Does Not Need a License?
- Children under the age of 16 do not need a fishing license (15 and under).
- Residents born before June 1, 1940 who have lived in Louisiana for one year prior to fishing are exempt from basic and saltwater licenses but MUST have appropriate gear licenses when using trawls, crab traps, slat traps, oyster tongs, crawfish traps, wire nets and hoop nets.
Fishing In Saltwater
Title 56, Section 302.1.C.(1) requires that all recreational anglers fishing south of the “saltwater line” for saltwater species have in their possession a Louisiana saltwater angler’s license IN ADDITION TO a basic Louisiana fishing license EXCEPT those persons otherwise exempted. All regulations apply regardless of where the fish is taken.
Recreational Offshore Landing Permit
Recreational anglers and charter captains are required to obtain this free permit to possess tunas, billfish, swordfish, amberjacks, groupers, snappers, hinds, cobia, wahoo and dolphin. Minors (under 16) are not required to obtain a recreational offshore landing permit. Angling customers on a paid-for-hire charter trip ALSO do not need a permit. Anglers wishing to obtain or renew a permit must register at https://rolp.wlf.la.gov. While the Louisiana ROLP is required for each individual angler onboard, a federal Highly Migratory Species (HMS) vessel permit is required if fishing for any federally regulated highly migratory species: Atlantic tunas (bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack and albacore) and sharks, swordfish, white and blue marlin, sailfish and spearfish. This is a fee-based permit, anglers can apply and pay for the permit online at www.nmfspermits.com or by calling 888-872-8862. There are also some mandatory reporting requirements. Click HERE for more information.
Activities that Require a License
A valid Basic Fishing License is required to possess fish in Louisiana waters OR to use the following gears in pursuit of fish:
- Bow and arrow
- A barbed or barbless spear
- Frog gig/catcher
- Scuba gear
- Hook and Line
- Cast net with a radius not to exceed 8 feet, 6 inches
- Crabbing on a refuge or wildlife management area (WMA)
