HLS 18RS-1054 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 706
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
FISHING/RECREATIONAL: Relative to possession limits of filleted red drum, spotted sea
trout, or Southern flounder on board a vessel while on the water
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:325.1(A)(3), relative to recreational saltwater finfish; to
3 provide for possession limits of certain filleted saltwater finfish on board a vessel
4 while on the water; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 56:325.1(A)(3) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง325.1. Size and possession limits, recreational saltwater finfish; penalties
8 A.
9 * * *
10 (3)(a) A recreational saltwater fisherman in possession of a valid basic and
11 saltwater license may possess twice the daily bag limit of red drum and spotted sea
12 trout; however, no person shall be in possession of over the daily bag limit while
13 fishing or while on the water, unless such recreational saltwater fisherman is aboard
14 a trawler engaged in commercial fishing for a consecutive period of longer than
15 twenty-five hours.
16 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
17 and R.S. 56:325.2(A) and (B), while traversing the waterways between a camp
18 owned by the boat operator and a recognized boat ramp, each person on board a
19 vessel may possess up to the possession limit of filleted red drum, spotted sea trout,
20 and Southern flounder provided that the filleted fish have sufficient skin remaining
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 706
HLS 18RS-1054 ENGROSSED
1 on the fillet to allow for identification of the species, are no less than two-thirds of
2 the minimum length provided by law, are segregated by species into plastic bags or
3 containers that are marked by species and the date caught in order to allow easy
4 identification of the species and amount of fillets.
5 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 706 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Authorizes possession of up to the possession limit of filleted red drum, spotted
sea trout, or Southern flounder on board a vessel while on the water under certain
circumstances.
Present law prohibits possession of over the daily bag limit of red drum, spotted sea trout,
or Southern flounder while fishing or while on the water, unless such recreational saltwater
fisherman is aboard a trawler engaged in commercial fishing for a consecutive period of
longer than 25 hours and the vessel is equipped to cook. Further prohibits the possession of
filleted fish while aboard a vessel on the water.
Proposed law allows possession of up to the possession limit of filleted red drum, spotted
sea trout, or Southern flounder while traversing the waterways between a camp owned by
the boat operator and a recognized boat ramp, provided that the filleted fish have sufficient
skin remaining on the fillet for identification of the species, are no less than 2/3 of the
minimum legal length, and are separated by species into plastic containers marked by species
and date caught.
(Amends R.S. 56:325.1(A)(3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment to the original bill:
1. Require the fillet to be no less than 2/3 of the minimum legal length.
2. Require sufficient skin to be left on the fillet for identification of the species of
fish.
3. Remove the requirement for GPS documentation of route taken from the camp
to the boat ramp.
4. Change the limit from "bag" limit to "possession" limit.
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.