Recreational Shrimping

License Requirements

Cast Net License Requirements

• Basic Fishing License

Trawl License Requirements

• Basic Fishing License
• Trawl License
• Federal Shrimp Vessel Permit required for vessels fishing shrimp in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (EEZ)

* No license required for use of bait seines and dip nets.

Shrimping in Louisiana is divided into three distinct areas, the inshore waters, the offshore territorial sea and the federal EEZ.

The line (shrimp line) that separates inside waters from outside territorial waters generally follows the coastline, however there are some exceptions. For a description of the specific boundary locations check with your local LDWF Enforcement Office or visit www.wlf.louisiana.gov/fishing/insideoutside-shrimp-line.

Maps of the shrimp line are available at a charge of $10 per map by writing the:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
2021 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 220
New Orleans, LA 70122
504-284-5272

Please specify which area of the coast in which you are interested. Louisiana state waters extend 9 nautical miles (10.357 statute miles or 3 marine leagues) seaward from the nearest land, but in some cases extend further, particularly in the Grand Isle, Marsh Island and East Cote Blanche Bay area. The EEZ is described as waters that extend seaward from the Louisiana gulfward boundary out to 200 miles from the coast. For specific boundary locations, contact your local LDWF Enforcement Office.

Size and Possession Limits

• No size limit on any saltwater shrimp taken during the spring open season in Louisiana.
• No size limit on brown shrimp or seabobs taken during any open season.
• There is a minimum possession of 100 count (whole shrimp per pound) on white shrimp taken in either inside or outside (offshore) waters of Louisiana. This size restriction applies to the taking or possession of such shrimp aboard a vessel.

EXCEPTION: There is no possession count on white shrimp taken or possessed from Oct. 15 through the third Monday in December. When more than 50 percent by weight of the shrimp taken or possessed is seabobs or brown shrimp, the maximum allowable amount of undersized white shrimp taken or possessed shall not exceed 10 percent by weight of the total shrimp taken or possessed.

Seasons

Shrimp seasons are flexible and are determined by the LWFC based upon biological and technical data relative to shrimp populations. The spring inshore season usually begins in early- to mid-May and may extend into July. The fall inshore season usually begins around mid-August and typically extends into December. The shrimp season in Louisiana’s outside territorial waters is generally open year-round EXCEPT for a closed season in portions of state outside waters, which may be set during the late winter to early spring months, usually beginning in December or January and extending into March or April. The shrimp season in the EEZ is usually open year-round.

Trawls cannot be used for any purpose in state waters during the closed shrimp season.The recreational shrimp season is consistent with the commercial season. For current shrimp season information, click here.

NOTE: Restricted areas exist within WMAs, refuges and other areas and may be closed to certain gear types or methods of fishing. Reference WMA and refuge regulations or check with your local LDWF Office.

Cast Nets, Dip Nets and Bait Seines

A recreational fisherman is allowed to use dip nets, bait seines and cast nets not to exceed 8 and 1/2 feet in radius. Recreational fishermen shall not take at any time more than 50 pounds of shrimp during closed shrimp season and 100 pounds of shrimp per day during the open season, in the aggregate, per boat or vehicle, regardless of the number of persons thereon. Shrimp taken are to be used for bait or for the fisherman’s own consumption and are not sold, traded or otherwise permitted to enter into commerce. Certain WMAs and state or federal refuges may have different rules. Reference WMA and refuge regulations or check with an LDWF Enforcement Office if you have questions.

Restrictions on Night Shrimping

Night shrimping is prohibited between the hours of one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise in the following areas: Vermilion Bay, East and West Cote Blanche bays and in Atchafalaya Bay from the western shore of Vermilion Bay to the western shore of the Atchafalaya River and the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel out to Eugene Island as described by the inside-outside line

Trawls

Trawls cannot have a mesh size less than 5/8-inch bar or 1 and 1/4 inches stretched. In that portion of state inside waters from the western shore of the Atchafalaya River to the western shore of Vermilion Bay and Southwest Pass at Marsh Island, mesh size must not be less than 3/4-inch bar or 1 and 1/2 inches stretched during the fall inshore shrimp season.

Trawling During Open Season and Possession Limits

During the open shrimping seasons trawls 25 feet and less are allowed for recreational purposes.

Recreational shrimpers using trawls 16 feet in length or less are limited to 100 pounds (heads on) of shrimp per boat per day.

Recreational shrimpers using trawls between 16 and 25 feet in length are limited to no more than 250 pounds of (heads-on) shrimp per day per boat per day if the shrimp taken are used for bait or the fisherman’s own consumption and are not sold, traded or otherwise permitted to enter commerce.

Information concerning federal shrimp vessel permits, Turtle Excluder Device (TED) and Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRD) requirements and exemptions can be obtained by contacting the NOAA Fisheries Service at 727-824-5312 for TEDs or 727-824-5305 for BRDs or at www.nmfs.noaa.gov. Detailed information on TEDs may be found at the following link to the NOAA Fisheries website http://www.sefsc.noaa.gov/labs/mississippi/ted/regulations.htm.

Trawling Restrictions

• No net or beam trawl used for taking fish or shrimp from the saltwater areas of the state is allowed to be left unattended.
• Taking shrimp with saltwater trawls from May 1 - Sept. 15 each year is prohibited in state waters on the south side of Grand Isle from Caminada Pass to Barataria Pass in Jefferson Parish; from the southeast side of the Caminada bridge to the northwest side of Barataria Pass at Fort Livingston, extending from the beach side of Grand Isle to a distance of 500 feet beyond the shoreline into the Gulf of Mexico.
• Trawls cannot be used for any purpose in state waters during the closed shrimp season.
• No person is allowed to trawl over any privately leased bedding grounds or oyster propagating place that is staked off, marked or posted as required by law or regulation.
• Trawling is prohibited in Lake Maurepas and that portion of Lake Pontchartrain from the shoreline to 1.25 miles out from the Jefferson/Orleans Parish line east to the eastern shore of South Point, from South Point to North Shore along the railroad bridge west from North Shore to Goose Point.
• Trawling is prohibited between the railroad bridge and Interstate 10 in Lake Pontchartrain.
• Trawling at night is prohibited in Cameron Parish sections of Calcasieu Lake, the Black Lake Bayou System, Grand Bayou, Little Burton’s Ditch, Grand Lake and White Lake.
• Trawls are prohibited in the waters of Bayou Judge Perez (Bayou Hermitage) from its entrance into Lake Judge Perez (Bayou Hermitage) to Devils Bayou, a distance of approximately 1 mile, located in Plaquemines Parish.
• Trawling is prohibited north of the LA Highway 631 Bridge at Des Allemands, Louisiana, and in Lac Des Allemands, its streams and tributaries.
• Trawling is also prohibited in the cove immediately adjacent to Cypremort Point State Park landward of a line from Blue Point to Cypremort Point to the shoreline.

Management

For more information on how our shrimp fishery is managed click HERE.