LWFC Takes Measures to remove bag, size and seasonal limits on several species for consistency with Federal regulations

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission passed a notice of intent at their meeting today to modify the regulations on reef fishes.  The proposed rule would remove from state regulations several species that were previously removed from Federal management.  These are species that are seldom harvested, and even less often targeted.  The result of the proposed change to state regulations would be to have consistent regulations on these species for both state and federal waters.

The proposed rule would remove dog and mahogany snapper and schoolmaster from the 10 fish per person recreational creel limit for reef fish.  That daily aggregate creel limit would still be in place for queen, mutton, blackfin, cubera, gray (mangrove), silk, yellowtail and wenchman snappers.  

The proposed rule would also remove the 12-inch minimum size limit for dog and mahogany snappers and schoolmaster, and the 8-inch minimum size for black seabass for both commercial and recreational harvesters.

It would remove blackline tilefish and anchor tilefish from the 20 fish per person aggregate recreational creel limit for reef fish.  That daily aggregate creel limit would still be in place for vermilion and lane snapper, gray triggerfish, almaco jack, goldface tilefish, tilefish, and blueline tilefish.

It would remove red hind, rock hind and misty grouper from the 4 fish per person aggregate creel limit for reef fish.  That daily aggregate creel limit would still be in place for speckled hind (limit 1 within the aggregate), black, red, snowy, yellowedge, yellowfin, yellowmouth, warsaw (limit 1 within the aggregate), and gag groupers, and scamp.  It would also remove the current recreational closed season for rock and red rind, currently February 1 through March 31 of each year.

Interested persons may submit comments relative to the proposed rule prior to September 4, 2014 to Jason Adriance, Office of Fisheries, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge LA  70808 or by e-mail to jadriance@wlf.la.gov

To view the notice of intent in its entirety, click here:

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.

For press inquires contact Ashley Roth, aroth@wlf.la.gov or 504-286-4162.