The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, at its regularly scheduled October meeting, took action allowing recreational anglers to harvest additional red snapper in state waters beginning at 12:01 am on Friday, October 7, 2016, during weekends only.  Weekends are restricted to Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.  
 
This action was taken by the Commission after receiving a red snapper landings update from the Department.  Preliminary estimates from the Department’s LA Creel Program indicate Louisiana’s recreational fishermen (private anglers and charter-for-hire) landed a total of 1,041,321 pounds of red snapper through September 6, 2016, when Louisiana’s state water red snapper season closed. These landings account for approximately 93 percent of our historical average for both the private angler and charter boat components of the recreational sector (1,116,732 pounds).
 
This fall season will allow recreational anglers the opportunity to harvest the remaining 75,411 pounds of red snapper in state waters, with a daily bag and possession limit of two fish per person at a 16-inch minimum total length.  The department will monitor harvest, and the Secretary was given the authority to close the season when necessary to protect the resource.
 
Recreational Offshore Landing Permit
 
LDWF reminds anglers that a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit is required in order to possess certain species, including red snapper.  Anglers may obtain or renew the permit, free of charge at https://rolp.wlf.la.gov. Anglers may renew their permits up to 30 days prior to expiration. A valid Louisiana fishing license number is required to obtain a permit. A confirmation number is allowed for a temporary (trip) license.
 
Recreational anglers and charter captains are required to obtain a Recreational Offshore Landing 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 as long as the charter captain has a valid Charter Recreational Offshore Landing Permit.