RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 462 (HB 706) 2018 Regular Session Zeringue
Existing 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.
New law allows a fisherman who holds and possesses a valid recreational fishing license and
can demonstrate certain requirements to the department's satisfaction to possess up to the
possession limit of filleted red drum, spotted sea trout, and Southern flounder. These
requirements include use of a boat launch south of US 190 and actively being on the water
or at a remote camp for two days or more.
New law requires the filleted fish to have sufficient skin remaining on the fillet to allow for
identification and to be segregated by species into plastic bags or containers that are marked
with certain information. Further provides the required length of the fillets for spotted sea
trout must be no less than 10 inches and fillets of red drum must be no less than 14 inches.
New law requires the fish to be in the possession of the person who took the fish and
prohibits a fisherman from actively fishing or being engaged in fishing while in possession
of more than the daily take limit.
Effective August 1, 2018.
(Amends R.S. 56:325.1(A)(3))