Part I. Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and Agencies Thereunder 1

A. Whereas, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is charged with enforcing the law; and

B. whereas, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission in open meeting held in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 29, 1979, and acting under the authority of Act 282 of 1979, R.S 56:22 of 1950, the waters of the state of Louisiana on the south side of Grand Isle from Caminada Pass to Barataria Pass, in Jefferson Parish, from the southeast side of Caminada Bridge to the northwest side of Barataria Pass at Fort Livingston, extending from the beach side of Grand Isle to a distance of 500 feet beyond the shoreline into the Gulf of Mexico from the said Grand Isle are hereby designated as closed zones; and

C. whereas, for the purpose of preventing a public health problem or measure because of undesirable fish (such as small catfish) or other aquatic or marine life being left on the beach of Grand Isle to rot or deteriorate, the said above waters are closed to the taking of fish with saltwater netting, trawls, and seines of any type from May 1 to September 15, both dates inclusive, and beginning May 1, 1979, and each year thereafter during this period, until further action on the part of the commission.

D. Now therefore, be it resolved, that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries properly enforce the area described.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:6.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 5:329 (October 1979).

§306. Cypremort Point State Park―Netting Prohibition

A. Recent emergency provisions adopted by the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission under the authority of R.S. 56:317 prohibit the use of gill nets, trammel nets, seines and trawls from the cove immediately adjacent to Cypremort Point State Park, St. Mary and Iberia Parishes, Louisiana. The area to be closed shall be landward of a line from the point commonly known as Blue Point to the point of land commonly known as Cypremort Point, including all waters therein to the existing shoreline.

B. This prohibition was adopted because of interference of commercial and recreational activities, fish remains and trash being washed ashore from commercial fishing activities causing health hazards to swimmers, fishermen, children and other water users.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:317.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 12:843 (December 1986).

§307. Menhaden Season

A. The season for the taking of menhaden as well as processing of menhaden shall be from the third Monday in April through November 1.

B. No menhaden may be landed in Louisiana ports except during the menhaden season as described in

C. The menhaden season shall apply to all waters seaward of the inside-outside line described in R.S. 56:495 including waters in the Federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and in Chandeleur and Breton Sounds as described below. All other inside waters and passes are permanently closed to menhaden fishing.

D. For purposes of the menhaden season, Breton and Chandeleur Sounds are described as that portion of the statutorily described inside waters as shown on a map by Raymond C. Impastato, P.L.S., dated July 20, 1992, and more particularly described as follows.

1. Beginning at the most northerly point on the south side of Taylor Pass, Lat. 29°23'00"N, Long. 89°20'06"W which is on the inside-outside shrimp line as described in R.S. 56:495; thence westerly to Deep Water Point, Lat. 29°23'36"N, Long. 89°22'54"W; thence westerly to Coquille Point, Lat. 29°23'36"N, Long. 89°24'12"W; thence westerly to Raccoon Point, Lat. 29°24'06"N, Long. 89°28'10"W; thence northerly to the most northerly point of Sable Island, Lat. 29°24'54"N, Long. 89°28'27"W; thence northwesterly to California Point, Lat. 29°27'33"N, Long. 89°31'18"W; thence northerly to Telegraph Point, Lat. 29°30'57"N, Long. 89°30'57"W; thence northerly to Mozambique Point, Lat. 29°37'20"N, Long. 89°29'11"W; thence northeasterly to Grace Point (red light no. 62 on the M.R.G.O.), Lat. 29°40'40"N, Long. 89°23'10"W; thence northerly to Deadman Point, Lat. 29°44'06"N, Long. 89°21'05"W; thence easterly to Point Lydia, Lat. 29°45'27"N, Long. 89°16'12"W; thence northerly to Point Comfort, Lat. 29°49'32"N, Long. 89°14'18"W; thence northerly to the most easterly point on Mitchell Island, Lat. 29°53'42"N, Long. 89°11'50"W; thence northerly to the most easterly point on Martin Island, Lat. 29°57'30"N, Long. 89°11'05"W; thence northerly to the most easterly point on Brush Island, Lat. 30°02'42"N, Long. 89°10'06"W; thence northerly to Door Point, Lat. 30°03'45"N, Long. 89°10'08"W; thence northerly to the most easterly point on Isle Au Pitre, Lat. 30°09'27"N, Long. 89°11'02"W; thence north (grid) a distance of 19214.60 feet to a point on the Louisiana-Mississippi Lateral Boundary, Lat. 30°12'37.1781"N, Long. 89°10'57.8925"W; thence S60°20'06"E (grid) along the Louisiana-Mississippi Lateral Boundary a distance of 31555.38 feet, Lat. 30°09'57.4068"N, Long. 89°05'48.924O"W; thence S82°53'53"E (grid) continuing along the Louisiana-Mississippi Lateral Boundary a distance of 72649.38 feet, Lat. 30°08'14.1260"N, Long. 89°52'10.3224"W; thence south (grid) a distance of 32521.58 feet to the Chandeleur Light, Lat. 30°02'52"N, Long. 88°52'18"W, which is on the inside-outside shrimp line as described in R.S. 56:495; thence southeasterly along the inside-outside shrimp line as described in R.S. 56:495 to the point of beginning.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:313, 56:6(25)(a), and 56:326.3.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 5:329 (October 1979), amended LR 14:547 (August 1988), LR 19:58 (January 1993), LR 19:1179 (September 1993).

§309. Calcasieu Lake

A. At its meeting on March 25, 1975, the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted the following rules and regulations for Calcasieu Lake, in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes.

1. No net fishing will be allowed within 500 feet of the following areas:

a. the mouths of Grand and Lambert Bayous;

b. the new "washout" south of Lambert Bayou;

c. the old Revetement or old jetties at the south end of Calcasieu Lake;

d. "Nine Mile Cut"; and

e. all cuts below Nine Mile along the channel spoil at East Pass in Turner's Bay.

2. Retain the 1,000 foot maximum allowable webbing permitted for each person operating in Calcasieu Lake. Retain the conditions under this resolution whereby nets measuring 1,000 feet must be fished individually and no two or more fishermen can join these nets together in excess of 1,000 feet.

3. Require all strike net fishermen using trout nets to remain with their nets at all times when set out.

4. All staked gill and trammel net webbing fished in Calcasieu Lake, whether set with the intent of catching trout, redfish, gar, or any species of fish, shall be run daily as prescribed by law at present. When unattended for more than 24 hours and dead, floating fish are found in a net, the net shall be considered in violation of this regulation and confiscated by agents of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

5. All webbing regardless of length shall be tagged as prescribed by law. Any net found untagged will be in violation and confiscated by agents of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

6. Exempt Calcasieu Lake from Act 215, H.B. 231, concerning legal mesh sizes, allowing saltwater mesh requirements as prescribed by law to apply to Calcasieu Lake. These mesh sizes are:

a.i. seines, not less than 7/8-inch square or

ii. trammel nets, not less than 1-inch square or

iii. gill nets, not less than 1 1/2 inches square or

b. Each seine, trammel net, and gill net in use in Calcasieu Lake shall not exceed 1,000 feet in length.

B.1. Whereas, Act 510 of the 1974 Louisiana Legislative Session, authorized the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to set seasons, regulate the type of gear used and set possession limits for speckled trout and other estuarine fish in Calcasieu Lake, located in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes; and

2. whereas, it has been clearly demonstrated that intense fishing competition exists between both commercial and sports fishermen.

3. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission does hereby amend previous regulations for commercial fishing in Calcasieu Lake to provide that netting shall be permitted only during nighttime hours from June 1 through Labor Day.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:326.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 1:185 (April 1975), amended LR 1:276 (June 1975).

§311. Definition of Menhaden and Herring-Like Species

A. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission does hereby adopt the attached rules and regulations as pertaining to the definition of menhaden and herring-like species.

B. The term menhaden and herring-like species shall be those species contained within the family Clupeidae, as recognized and published in: "A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States and Canada;" The American Fisheries Society. Special Publication No. 12, 1980.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:6(10) and 322(c)(6).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 13:189 (March 1987).

§313. Excessive Killing of Fish

A. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission does hereby adopt the attached rules and regulations as pertaining to the excessive killing of fish as directed by Act 919 of the 1986 legislature.

B. Excessive killing shall be defined as "the killing resulting from taking or attempting to take any fish in excess of what the possessor thereof can process, utilize, or transport from the fishing grounds. Shrimp and shrimping operations are excluded."

C. The commission further adopts a method to determine the market value of fish as:

1. ascertaining a price per pound from at least three Louisiana fish buying establishments; or

2. ascertaining a price per pound from National Marine Fisheries Service Market News Reports; or

3. any other published source of information.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:409.1.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 13:189 (March 1987).

§323. Size Limits of King and Spanish Mackerel and Cobia

A. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission does hereby adopt the following rules and regulations establishing size limits.

1. The minimum legal size for possession of Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) shall be 12 inches fork length and king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) shall be 24 inches fork length whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana. No person shall possess, sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to sell, barter, trade or exchange Spanish mackerel or king mackerel less than the minimum size requirements.

2. The minimum legal size for possession of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana shall be 33 inches fork length. No person shall possess, sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to sell, barter, trade or exchange cobia less than the minimum size requirements.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:326.1 and R.S. 56:326.3.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 13:502 (September 1987), amended LR 17:207 (February 1991), LR 26:1505 (July 2000).

§325. Marking System for Saltwater Gill Nets and Trammel Nets

A. Each gill net or trammel net shall be marked with a waterproof tag attached to the corkline at each end of the net, no more than 3 feet from the edge of the webbing. Said tags shall be supplied by the commercial fisherman and to be completely waterproof. Each tag shall have the fisherman's full name (no initials) and commercial fisherman's license number (not the net license number) printed thereon in the English language, so as to be clearly legible.

B. Each gill net or trammel net shall be marked with buoys which shall be visible above the surface of the water. Said buoys shall be supplied by the commercial fisherman, have a minimum diameter of 6 inches and be international orange in color. The buoys shall be attached to each end of the net.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:322.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 15:280 (April 1989).

§327. Daily Take and Possession Limits of King and Spanish Mackerel and Cobia

A. The recreational bag limit for possession of Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana shall be 15 fish per person, per day.

B. The recreational bag limit for possession of king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana shall be two fish per person, per day.

C. A person subject to a bag limit for Spanish or king mackerel may not possess during a single day, regardless of the number of trips or the duration of a trip, any king or Spanish mackerel in excess of such bag limit, except that a person who is on a trip that spans more than 24 hours may possess no more than two daily limits, provided such a trip is aboard a charter vessel or headboat, and:

1. the vessel has two licensed operators aboard as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips over 12 hours; and

2. each passenger is issued and has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the length of the trip.

D. The recreational and commercial bag limit for possession of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana shall be two fish per person.

E. Commercial King Mackerel

1. No person shall take, harvest, land, or possess aboard a harvesting vessel king mackerel in excess of a recreational bag limit unless that person is in possession and has in his immediate possession a valid commercial fishing license, commercial gear licenses (if applicable) and a valid commercial vessel license. Persons taking, harvesting, landing, possessing or selling or attempting to sell king mackerel taken in or from the EEZ shall be in possession of a valid federal permit for gulf king mackerel issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The holder of such valid commercial licenses or federal permits (if applicable) shall not take, possess, land, sell, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to take, sell, barter, trade or exchange king mackerel, whole or eviscerated, in excess of 3,000 pounds at any time.

2. No person aboard any vessel shall transfer or cause the transfer of king mackerel between vessels on state or federal waters.

3. Persons possessing king mackerel for commercial purposes shall not possess a recreational bag limit in addition to the 3,000 pound limitations as required herein.

4. No person shall sell, purchase, barter, trade or exchange or attempt to sell, purchase, barter, trade or exchange king mackerel, whole or eviscerated, in excess of 3,000 pounds. Except that such limitation shall not apply to the resale of king mackerel by a validly licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealer who purchased such king mackerel in compliance with the regulations and requirements of this Section and in compliance with other requirements of law.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:6(25)(a), 56:325.1 and R.S. 56:326.3.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 15:868 (October 1989), amended LR 17:207 (February 1991), LR 19:513 (April 1993), LR 26:2633 (November 2000), LR 26:2833 (December 2000).

§329. Special Bait Dealer's Permit

A. Policy. The special bait dealer's permit is intended solely for the benefit of the recreational fishing public which desires to use live shrimp and live croaker as bait during the closed shrimp seasons. Its purpose is to allow the uninterrupted operation of those commercial establishments which sell live bait shrimp and live croaker to the fishing public during the closed shrimp seasons. The permit is not intended for the direct use of recreational fishermen, charter boats, commercial fishermen who sell dead shrimp or croaker, or for any other entity which may wish to catch shrimp or croaker for their own use during the closed shrimp seasons.

B. Application

1. Applicants wishing to sell live shrimp or live croaker harvested from Louisiana waters during closed shrimp season must apply for a special bait dealer permit from the department for a fee of $110.00.

2. The special bait dealer’s permit shall be valid for one year beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of that same calendar year. The permit may be purchased at any time during the year for the current permit year and beginning November 15 for the immediately following permit year.

3. Applications will be accepted only from the owner of an onshore business which sells or plans to sell live shrimp or live croaker to recreational fisherman.

4. Applicant shall be responsible for acquiring and possessing all proper licenses including the wholesale/retail seafood dealers license.

5. Any person convicted of any class three or greater wildlife or fisheries violation within the previous three years prior to the date of application shall not qualify to obtain a special bait dealer’s permit or be onboard any vessel engaged in permitted activities.

6. Applicant must post a $1,000 cash bond before the permit is issued. This bond will be forfeited if the permittee, his employee, or his contractor violates any provision of the rules and regulations concerning the special bait dealer's permit or if the permittee, his employee, or his contractor violates any commercial fishing law or regulation while operating under the permit.

7. All new applications shall require an inspection by the department of their onshore facility and vessel prior to permit being issued. Subsequent inspections may be required at renewal. Inspection requirements shall verify applicant is operating a commercial establishment which sells live shrimp or live croakers to the fishing public for use as bait and shall include:

a. onshore facility able to maintain live shrimp or live croakers;

b. onshore facilities and vessel tanks must have provisions for aeration and/or circulation of the water in which live shrimp or live croakers are held;

c. onshore facility holding tanks must have a minimal combined capacity of 300 gallons. Tanks having less than 30 gallon capacity will not be included in combined on shore facility capacity;

d. vessel tanks must be carried on or built into the vessel and have a minimum of one compartment or tank with a minimum capacity of 30 gallons;

e. notice to the public must be posted that live bait is available.

8. Only the vessel and those commercial fishermen specified at the time of application shall operate under the permit. Amendments to vessel or commercial fishermen listed under the permit must be submitted to the department and approved before the new vessel or commercial fisherman can operate under the permit. The permit is not transferable to any other person or vessel. The entire original permit must be carried on the vessel while in operation.

C. Operations

1. The entire original permit must be in the possession of the commercial fisherman while operating under the conditions of the permit. Only the vessel and those commercial fisherman specified at the time of application shall operate under the permit. No other vessel or commercial fisherman shall be used under this permit.

2. Live wells, aeration tanks, and other vessel facilities to maintain live shrimp or croaker must be carried on or built into this vessel while operating under the conditions of the permit.

3. No person shall transfer any shrimp or croaker taken under a permit from one vessel to another unless both vessels are permitted under the same wholesale/retail seafood dealer, and the captain of the harvesting vessel has signed a trip ticket for the harvested bait, and the bait is then transported directly to the wholesale/retail seafood dealer under which both vessels are operating; upon receiving the harvested bait the dealer shall complete the trip ticket.

4. While operating under the conditions of the permit, no shrimp or croaker may be sold from the vessel to anyone other than the licensed wholesale/retail seafood dealer listed on the permit during the closed shrimp seasons.

5. Signs which identify the vessel as working under the special bait dealer's permit shall be posted on the vessel. These signs shall be visible from either side of the vessel and from the air; the word "BAIT" and the permit number shall be placed on these signs in letters at least 12 inches high.

6. No more than two gallons of dead shrimp or croaker or combination thereof may be aboard the vessel while it is operating under the permit. All dead shrimp or croaker or combination thereof in excess of two gallons must be immediately returned to the water. Shrimp or croaker dying in onshore holding facilities may be sold for bait use only.

7. Permitted gear is limited to one trawl not to exceed 25 feet along the cork line 33 feet along the lead line or two skimmer nets having an individual net frame size not more than 16 feet measured horizontally or 12 feet measured vertically or 20 feet measured diagonally. These are the only commercial fishing gears which can be used or carried aboard the permitted vessel while the vessel is operating under the permit; no other commercial fishing gear other than unserviceable crab traps as described in R.S. 56:322(G) may be on the vessel when it is being used under the permit.

8. Bait shrimp or croaker may be taken only from official sunrise to official sunset; however, the department at its discretion, may designate the areas and hours of night time operations under the permit provided permitted vessels are equipped with a working vessel monitoring system as described in LAC 76:VII.371.

9. Each time the permit is used the permittee must notify the department by contacting the Communications Section on the designated toll free telephone number provided on the permit and recording the confirmation number received. Before the vessel departs the dock under the permit, the department must be advised of the time of departure and the sub-basin code corresponding to the department’s trip ticket sub-basin map in which trawling or skimming will take place; immediately after the permitted vessel returns to the dock the department must be notified of the time of return by contacting the Communications Section on the designated toll free telephone number provided on the permit.

10. The permittee shall maintain an up-to-date record of the activities conducted under the permit on forms provided by the department for that purpose. These records shall be kept onboard the vessel and made available for inspection by agents of the department upon request by said agents at any time and shall include the permittee’s name and permit number, date, departure time, fishing location, gear used, confirmation number, return time, and number of live shrimp or live croaker harvested. All applicable record information shall be completed before fishing operations begin. In addition, any agent of the department shall be allowed to make an onsite inspection of any facilities operating under the permit, at any time. Nothing herein this Section shall exempt the permittee from trip ticket reporting requirements as provided for in R.S. 56:306.4.

D. Penalties

1. No person shall violate any provision of this Section. Violations of any provision of this Section shall constitute a class 4 violation as defined in R.S. 56:34.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with LA R.S. 56:326.3 and 56:497(C).

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 3:210 (April, 1977), amended LR 15:867 (October, 1989), LR 19:215 (February, 1993), LR 23:86 (January, 1997), LR 33:864 (May 2007), LR 36:77 (January 2010), LR 38:3250 (December 2012).

§331. Black Drum Size Limits, Daily Take, Possession Limits, and Quotas

A. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission does hereby adopt the following rules and regulations for the taking of black drum (Pogonias cromis).

1. The daily take and possession limit for black drum caught recreationally within or without Louisiana waters shall be five fish per day and in possession.

2. The minimum legal size for the recreational or commercial taking of black drum shall be 16 inches total length.

3. The maximum legal size for the recreational taking of black drum shall be 27 inches total length; provided however that recreational fishermen shall be allowed to take and possess no more than one black drum per day over

4. The annual commercial quota for 16 to 27-inch black drum shall be 3,250,000 pounds.

5. The annual commercial quota for black drum over 27 inches shall be 300,000 fish.

6. The fishing year for black drum shall begin on September 1, 1990 and every September 1 thereafter.

7. Once the black drum commercial quota(s) has been met, the purchase, barter, trade or sale of black drum taken in Louisiana after the closure is prohibited. The commercial taking or landing of black drum in Louisiana, whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana after the closure is prohibited. Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to prohibit the possession of fish legally taken prior to the closure order.

8. The Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall, by public notice, close the commercial fishery(s) for black drum when the quota(s) has been met or is projected to be met. The closure shall not take effect for at least 72 hours after notice to public.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with, R.S. 56:6(10), R.S. 56:6(25)(a), R.S. 56:326.1, R.S. 56:326.3.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 16:698 (August 1990), amended LR 26:2331 (October 2000).

§333. Sanctuaries: Calcasieu Lake, Sabine Lake

A. The areas within a 1/4-mile radius on the lake side only of the Lambert, Grand Bayou, Mangrove, and Peconi water control structures (otherwise identified as Structures No. 5, 1, 8 and 4 respectively), and the area within a

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:315.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 16:421 (May 1990).

§335. Reef Fish―Harvest Regulations

A. Recreational bag limits regarding the harvest of reef fish: triggerfishes, amberjacks, grunts, wrasses, snappers, groupers, sea basses, tilefishes, and porgies, within and without Louisiana's territorial waters.

B. Reef Fish Permits

1. All persons who do not possess a permit issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the federal fishery management plan for the harvest of Gulf of Mexico reef fish resources are limited to the recreational bag limit. To commercially harvest, sell, barter, trade or exchange or possess for commercial purposes all species of reef fish including dwarf sand perch and sand perch, but (excluding queen triggerfish, black seabass, porgies, and grunts) requires a valid federal reef fish vessel permit be on board the vessel and in the immediate possession.

2. For a person aboard a vessel operating as a charter vessel or headboat to fish for, or harvest, or possess, in or from the EEZ, any species of reef fish including dwarf sand perch and sand perch (but excluding queen triggerfish, black seabass, porgies, and grunts) a valid federal charter vessel/headboat reef fish permit must have been issued to the vessel and must be on board the vessel and in immediate possession.

3. Persons who are limited to a recreational bag limit shall not sell, barter, trade, exchange or attempt to sell, barter, trade or exchange any reef fish.

4. A person subject to a bag limit may not possess during a single day, regardless of the number of trips or the duration of a trip, any reef fish in excess of the bag limits.

5. No person aboard any commercial vessel shall transfer or cause the transfer of reef fish between vessels on state or federal waters.

6. For-hire vessels operated by a legally licensed Louisiana guide having a valid recreational offshore landing permit in possession and fishing the waters of the state during an open season can harvest and possess a recreational limit of reef fish.

C. Charter Vessels and Headboats

1. For charter vessels and headboats as defined in Federal Regulations 50 CFR Part 622.2, there will be an allowance for up to two daily bag limits on multi-day trips provided the vessel has two licensed operators aboard as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips of over 12 hours, and each passenger is issued and has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel that verifies the length of the trip.

2. Any fish taken from charter vessels or headboats as defined in Federal Regulations 50 CFR Part 622.2 or any charter vessel as described in R.S. 56:302.9 shall not be sold, traded, bartered or exchanged or attempted to be sold, traded, bartered or exchanged. The provisions of §335 apply to fish taken within or without Louisiana's territorial waters.

3. Captain and crew members shall not harvest or possess greater amberjack, red snapper, or grouper of any species while operating as charter vessels and headboats as defined in Federal Regulations 50 CFR Part 622.2. Their bag limit is zero for all of these species.

D. Commercial Harvest

1. All persons aboard a vessel for which no commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish has been issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Federal Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish resources are limited to the recreational bag limit for red snapper, deepwater or shallow-water grouper or any tilefish species, which may not be bartered or sold. No person aboard any vessel shall commercially possess, sell, barter, trade, exchange or attempt to sell, barter, trade or exchange red snapper, or any species of grouper or any tilefish species unless possessing a federal permit for the harvest of Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and the applicable federal Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) vessel account.

2. Requirement for federal IFQ vessel account and allocation: In addition to the federal commercial vessel permit for Gulf reef fish, in order to fish for, possess, or land Gulf red snapper, any species of grouper or any tilefish species, regardless of where harvested or possessed, the appropriate federal IFQ vessel account must have been issued to the vessel. No person shall commercially harvest or land red snapper, groupers or any tilefish species without holding or being assigned the appropriate federal IFQ allocation at least equal to the pounds of red snapper, groupers and tilefishes landed/docked at a shore side location or off loaded. On the last fishing trip of the year a vessel may exceed by 10 percent the remaining IFQ allocation.

3. No person shall purchase, sell, exchange, barter or attempt to purchase, sell, exchange, or barter any red snapper, grouper or tilefish species in excess of any possession limit for which federal commercial license, permit, appropriate allocation, and account were issued.

4. Requirement for federal IFQ dealer endorsement: In addition to the requirement for a federal dealer permit for Gulf reef fish, for a dealer to receive Gulf red snapper or any species of grouper or any tilefish species from a commercial fishing vessel he must have a federal Gulf IFQ dealer endorsement. For a person aboard a vessel with a federal IFQ vessel account to sell red snapper or any species of grouper or tilefish to anyone other than a permitted dealer, such person must also have a federal Gulf IFQ dealer endorsement.

5. Requirement for NMFS transaction approval code: The owner or operator of a vessel landing red snapper, groupers or tilefish species is responsible for calling National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Law Enforcement at least 3 hours, but no more than 12 hours, in advance of landing to report the time and location of landing and the name of the IFQ dealer where the red snapper, groupers or tilefish species are to be received, and the estimated gutted weight of red snapper, grouper and tilefish for each federal IFQ share category (red snapper, gag, red grouper, deep-water grouper, other shallow-water grouper, and tilefish species. For the purpose of these regulations, the term “landing” means tying a vessel to a dock. Failure to comply with this advance notice of landing requirement will preclude authorization to complete the required NMFS landing transaction report and, thus, will preclude issuance of the required NMFS-issued transaction approval code. Possession of commercial red snapper, groupers or tilefish species from the time of transfer from a vessel through possession by a dealer is prohibited unless the red snapper, groupers or tilefish species are accompanied by a transaction approval code verifying a legal transaction of the amount of red snapper, groupers or tilefish species in possession.

6. Offloading and transfer: No person shall offload from a vessel or receive from a vessel commercially harvested red snapper, groupers or tilefish species during the hours from 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., local time. No person shall offload red snapper, grouper or tilefish at a location which is not an offloading site approved by NOAA Fisheries and accessible to the public. For the purpose of these regulations, the term “offloading” means removing red snapper, groupers or tilefish species from a vessel. At-sea or dockside transfer of commercial red snapper, groupers or tilefish species from one vessel to another vessel is prohibited.

7. VMS requirement: No person shall commercially harvest red snapper, groupers or tilefish species from a vessel unless that vessel is equipped with a fully operational and federally approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) device. Approved devices are those devices approved by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and operating under the requirements mandated by NOAA Fisheries.

8. Commercial trip limits shall include those limits listed below. For the purposes of this rule, a trip is defined as a fishing trip, regardless of the number of days duration, that begins with departure from a dock, berth, beach, seawall or ramp and that terminates with return to a dock, berth, beach, seawall or ramp.

E. Recreational and commercial minimum and maximum size limits, unless otherwise noted.

F. Definitions. Federal regulations 50 CFR Part 622.2 defines charter vessels and headboats as follows.

G. Seasons

1. Seasons for the commercial harvest of reef fish species or groups shall be closed during the periods listed below. Possession of reef fish in excess of the daily bag limit while on the water is prohibited during the specified closed season. Any reef fish harvested during the closed season shall not be purchased, sold, traded, bartered or exchanged or attempted to be purchased, sold, traded, bartered or exchanged. This prohibition on sale/purchase does not apply to reef fish that were harvested, landed ashore, sold and purchased prior to the closed season. Nothing shall prohibit the possession or sale of fish legally taken prior to the closure providing that all commercial dealers possessing reef fish taken legally prior to the closure shall maintain appropriate records in accordance with R.S. 56:306.5 and R.S. 56:306.6.

2. Seasons for the recreational harvest of reef fish species or groups listed below shall be closed during the periods listed below.

3. Persons aboard a vessel for which the permits indicate both charter vessel/headboat for Gulf reef fish and commercial Gulf reef fish may continue to retain reef fish under the recreational take and possession limits specified in §335.A and §335.C, recreational seasons specified in §335.G.2 and size limits specified in §335.E, provided the vessel is operating as a validly licensed charter vessel or headboat with prepaid recreational charter fishermen aboard the vessel.

4. The provisions of §335.G apply to fish taken within or without Louisiana's territorial waters except for the season for the recreational harvest of red snapper, which is for Louisiana’s territorial waters only.

5. The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is hereby authorized, upon notification to the chairman of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, to close, open, re-open or re-close any reef fish season as needed when informed of such by the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to maintain consistency with modifications in the adjacent federal waters, should the federal seasons be modified. The secretary may also modify those portions of this rule pertaining to red snapper recreational daily harvest limits and red snapper recreational seasons if NOAA-NMFS institutes sub-regional management for the species or if he deems it necessary, following notification of the chairperson of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

H. Wholesale dealers are required to comply with the provisions of R.S. 56:306.5 and R.S. 56:306.6 when acquiring, purchasing, possessing and selling reef fish. Wholesale dealers shall maintain approval codes issued by NOAA Fisheries associated with all transactions of red snapper, groupers and tilefish species on purchases and sales on their records.

I.1. Devices

2. For a person on board a vessel to fish for or possess gulf reef fish in the gulf EEZ, the vessel must possess on board and such person must use the gear as specified below.

a. Non-stainless Steel Circle Hooks. Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits for reef fish.

b. Dehooking Device. At least one dehooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks embedded in gulf reef fish with minimum damage. The hook removal device must be constructed to allow the hook to be secured and the barb shielded without re-engaging during the removal process. The dehooking end must be blunt, and all edges rounded. The device must be of a size appropriate to secure the range of hook sizes and styles used in the gulf reef fish fishery.

J. No person who, pursuant to state or federal law, is subject to the jurisdiction of this state shall violate any federal law, rule or regulation particularly those rules and regulations enacted pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act and published in the Code of Federal Regulations as amended Title 50 and 15, for reef fishes while fishing in the EEZ, or possess, purchase, sell, barter, trade, or exchange reef fishes within or without the territorial boundaries of Louisiana in violation of any state or federal law, rule or regulation particularly those rules and regulations enacted pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act and published in the Code of Federal Regulations as amended Title 50 and 15 law.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S.56:6(25)(a), R.S. 56:320.2(C), R.S. 56:326.1 and R.S. 56:326.3.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 16:539 (June 1990), amended LR 19:1442 (November 1993), LR 20:797 (July 1994), LR 21:1267 (November 1995), LR 22:860 (September 1996), LR 24:1138, 1139 (June 1998), LR 24:1972 (October 1998), LR 26:793 (April 2000), LR 26:1505 (July 2000), LR 26:2833 (December 2000), LR 31:3166 (December 2005), LR 33:1156 (June 2007), repromulgated LR 33:1397 (July 2007), amended LR 34:2209 (October 2008), LR 34:2682 (December 2008), LR 36:1791 (August 2010), LR 38:2383 (September 2012), LR 39:330 (February 2013), LR 40:95 (January 2014), repromulgated LR 40:1116 (June 2014), LR 40:2281 (November 2014), amended by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Office of Fisheries, LR 42:908 (June 2016), repromulgated LR 44:89 (January 2017).