Louisiana fishing seasons, as regulated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, are divided into three categories that sound like the makings of a tasty po-boy: Shrimp, oyster and finfish. If you're planning a fishing trip to New Orleans, or trying to decide the best time to come for some salty and perfect Louisiana oysters, knowing what's available when is the best place to start!

The shrimp season is divided into spring and fall, as well as being further divided by inshore and outshore and also by zones. Each zone of water has a different spring opening date, ranging from the middle of May to the beginning of June. The fall season begins sometime in mid-August. In 2008, fall shrimping opened at noon on August 11. The official dates are announced each year in a press release on the WLF website about a month before the seasons open.

See a map of the Louisiana shrimp management zones mid-way through the page here.

Use these guidelines to measure fish correctly:

1. Place the fish on its side on a flat board with the jaw closed.

2. Squeeze the tail fin together or turn it in a way to obtain the maximum overall length.

3. For species with total length requirements, measure in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin.

4. For species with fork length requirements, measure in a straight line from the tip of the snout  to the fork of the tail.

5. For species with lower jaw fork length requirements, measure in a straight line from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

Angle: to fish with rod, fishing pole, or hook and line, with or without a reel.

Bait species: all species of fish and other aquatic life utilized for bait.

Bona fide resident:
any person who has resided in this state continuously during the 12 months immediately prior to the date on which he applies for any license and who has manifested his intent to remain in this state by establishing Louisiana as his legal domicile, as demonstrated by compliance with all of the following, as applicable. (a) If registered to vote, he is registered to vote in Louisiana. (b) If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, he is in possession of a valid Louisiana drivers license. (c) If owning a motor vehicle located within Louisiana, he is in possession of a valid Louisiana registration for that vehicle. (d) If earning an income, he has filed a Louisiana state income tax return and has complied with state income tax laws and regulations.

As to a corporation or other legal entity, a resident shall be any which is incorporated or otherwise organized under, and subject to, the laws of Louisiana, and is domiciled in Louisiana and has a permanent physical location of business in Louisiana where records are held.
Any person, corporation or other legal entity which possesses a resident license from other states shall not qualify for a resident license in Louisiana.

Snappers
Groupers
Jacks, Dolphins & Cobia
Mackerels & Tuna
Seatrout & Drums
Miscellaneous Fish

Methods of Taking Fish
Freshwater fish and saltwater recreational fish may be taken by means of rod, fishing pole, hook and line, trolling line, handline, bait casting, fly casting apparatus, by use of the devices known as yo-yos or trigger devices, bow and arrow, recreational wire nets and recreational slat traps, recreational hoop nets, standard spearing equipment used by a diver sport fishing in saltwater or freshwater when submerged in the water, recreational pipes, recreational buckets, recreational drums, recreational cans, recreational shrimp trawls and recreational crawfish nets and traps, and by no other means except a barbed or barbless spear used in saltwater for taking flounder. NOTE: Certain species of game fish may not be taken with some gear listed above. Crossbows are not a legal method.

No person shall take or possess fish taken by means of spears, poisons, stupefying substances or devices, explosives, guns, tree-topping devices, electricity or any instrument or device capable of producing an electric current used in shocking said fish. No person shall take or possess game fish taken by means of snagging devices, not including bow and arrow. Catfish may be taken by means of snagging devices. Garfish may be taken by means of spears and bows and arrows. It shall be unlawful to possess any of the prohibited instruments, weapons, substances or devices set out hereinabove with the intent to take fish.

If you're ready to go but you've never been before, a fishing guide who is native to the area and knows all of its secrets is invaluable. Fishing charters down here can be as rough or as fancy as you'd like, some offering a litte boat and a man in a tank top, while others will even grill your catch for you when you return to land. (More)

SALTWATER - FRESHWATER LINE

For the purposes of regulating certain fisheries the legislature recognized the historic division of the state into saltwater and freshwater areas based on the variations of flora and fauna found within these two divisions. The legislature further recognized that the exact line of demarcation cannot be precisely located due to constant changes in water salinity caused by winds, tides, and rains. The legislature therefore legally defined the freshwater and saltwater areas by describing a line from the Texas state line, easterly to the Mississippi state line. The areas south of the described line, plus a number of saltwater lakes and waterways, were designated as saltwater areas and all other areas north of the described line were designated as freshwater areas.