Frustration Grows as LWF Fee Targets Redfish Limits 

As recreational anglers in Louisiana acclimate to the new speckled trout regulations that have been imposed on them, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is continuing its push to tighten restrictions on redfish. In November, the legislature voted down a decision by the Commission to implement a new limit of three fish between 18 and 24 inches with no harvesting of bull reds allowed. This past week the WLFC passed a Notice of Intent (NOI) to recommend a 3-fish daily bag limit for redfish between 18 and 27 inches with no bull reds permitted. Also, charter guides would not be allowed to catch their limit. The current regulations allow 5 redfish between 16 and 27 inches with one fish over 27 inches. The amended NOI will now go before the public for a comment period and then be sent back to the legislature for oversight. 

Once again, LDWF is asking recreational anglers in Louisiana to comment on the new restrictions. However, it’s blatantly clear that the comment session is more of an appeasement session meant to give the impression that the LDWF cares about what recreational fishermen think. It’s because of this that frustration among recreational fishermen is growing after the state installed a closed season on flounder just last year and the tighter restrictions on speckled trout last month.

Roland Gardner has fished Southeast Louisiana for over 50 years, Gardner said he’s seen ebbs and flows in redfish harvests through the years. “To take a few down years and write new law to limit recreational fishermen is just a knee-jerk reaction. I wouldn’t be surprised if some environmentalists got to them and put forth an agenda to reduce limits on all species. It’s not going to stop with flounder, specks, and redfish,” Gardner said.

Jeff Dempster believes what’s happening on the East Coast of the county is coming to the Gulf of Mexico. “They want us all off the water to have the Gulf all to themselves. This is just the beginning. Look at what’s going on along the East Coast with the windmills. They’re killing whales and putting lobster fishermen out of business. You can bet your last fed coin they have their eyes on the Gulf,” Dempster said. 

Recreational fishermen are encouraged to voice their concerns by emailing the department at [email protected]. Also, there will be a one-time public hearing on proposed changes on January 22. 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Joe L. Herring Louisiana Room of the Wildlife and Fisheries Headquarters Building, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808. 

The meeting will be open to the public to allow for the submission of oral comments on the proposed amendments. To view the amended NOI and the original NOI visit: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award winning outdoor journalist that resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoor column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s LouisianaNorthshore.com and Louisiana Northshore Explore Magazine. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and prides himself on promoting South Louisiana’s unique fishery.