The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Tyler S. McCloud.
DIGEST
SB 159 Original 2020 Regular Session Smith
Present law authorizes the La. Wildlife and Fisheries commission to set possession limits, quotas,
places, seasons, times, size limits, and daily take limits for saltwater finfish caught recreationally.
Present law provides that the daily take and possession limits for red drum is five fish daily until
such time as the commission establishes daily take and possession limits in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act.
Present law authorizes exceptions for recreational fisherman to possess red drum above the
possession limit as follows:
(1)A fisherman can possess twice the daily bag limit of red drum, but not while fishing or while
on the water, unless such recreational saltwater fisherman is aboard a trawler engaged in
commercial fishing for a consecutive period longer than 25 hours.
(2)A fisherman who can demonstrate to the department's satisfaction use of a boat launch
located south of U.S. Highway 90 and that the fisherman has been actively on the water or
at a remote camp that can be accessed only by water for two days or more can possess up to
the possession limit of filleted red drum. The fish may be filleted if certain requirements are
met. This exception does not apply while actively fishing or engaged in fishing.
(3)The possession limit for red drum and spotted sea trout taken south of U.S. Highway 90 shall
be three times the daily take limit when the fisherman can show a landing receipt from a
public boat launch located south of U.S. Highway 90 that demonstrates to the satisfaction of
the department that the fisherman has been actively on the water or at a remote camp that can
be accessed only by water for two days or more. Present law provides for requirements on
how the fish are package while in possession. This exception does not apply while actively
fishing or engaged in fishing.
Proposed law provides that any red drum, regardless of the actual size, taken by bow and arrow shall
be retained and count toward any possession limit, quota, or daily take limit provided for in this
Section or by the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to present law. Proposed law further
provides any red drum taken by bow and arrow that measures either two inches below the minimum
size or two inches above the maximum size, shall also be retained and count as a second fish toward
any such possession limit, quota, or daily take limit.
Effective August 1, 2020.
(Adds R.S. 56:325.1(A)(5))