Reef Fish

mini_hero_icon

Search

Updated

Seasons and Size and Bag/Possession Limits

Unless otherwise established, there are no size limits for species not listed. Unless otherwise noted, possession limits for saltwater fish are the same as the daily bag limit.

Seasons and regulations may differ in federal waters off Louisiana’s coast. Visit the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s site for federal seasons and regulations. Note that federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels must comply with the more restrictive of federal or state reef fish regulations when fishing for reef fish in state waters.

Gear Restrictions and Requirements

See the latest recreational regulations.

Reef Fish

  • The captain and crew of a vessel under charter may not harvest red snapper, greater amberjack, or grouper of any species; their creel limit/bag limit is zero.
  • Federally permitted for-hire reef fish vessels must comply with the more restrictive of federal or state reef fish regulations when fishing for reef fish in state waters. 

For the best viewing experience on a phone or small screen, please rotate your device to landscape mode.

Species Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
Gag  24 inches minimum total length

Two gag per person per day within the four grouper aggregate; four grouper per person per day in aggregate. The four grouper aggregate is: speckled hind; black, red, snowy, yellowedge, yellowfin, yellowmouth, and warsaw grouper; gag; and scamp. Additional restrictions for the four grouper aggregate:

  • No more than one speckled hind and one warsaw grouper per vessel per day.
  • No more than two red grouper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Opens September 1, and remain open until 11:59 p.m. on December 31

Note that there are closed seasons for other grouper species within the four grouper aggregate—black, red, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper and scamp are closed February 1 through March 31 in state waters seaward of the 20 fathom (120 feet) boundary.
Black grouper 24 inches minimum total length

Four grouper per person per day in aggregate; the four grouper aggregate is: speckled hind; black, red, snowy, yellowedge, yellowfin, yellowmouth, and warsaw grouper; gag; and scamp. Additional restrictions for the four grouper aggregate:

  • No more than one speckled hind and one warsaw grouper per vessel per day.
  • No more than two red grouper and two gag per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Open year-round in state waters except February 1 through March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom (120 feet) boundary. Note that there are closed seasons for other grouper species within the four grouper aggregate—gag is closed January 1 through June 30 in state waters; red, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper and scamp are closed February 1 through March 31 in state waters seaward of the 20-fathom (120 feet) boundary.
Red and yellowfin grouper 20 inches minimum total length

Two red grouper per person per day within the four grouper aggregate; four grouper per person per day in aggregate. The four grouper aggregate is: speckled hind; black, red, snowy, yellowedge, yellowfin, yellowmouth, and warsaw grouper; gag; and scamp. Additional restrictions for the four grouper aggregate:

  • No more than one speckled hind and one warsaw grouper per vessel per day.
  • No more than two gag per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Open year-round in state waters except February 1 through March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom (120 feet) boundary. Note that there are closed seasons for other grouper species within the four grouper aggregate:
- Gag is closed January 1 through September 1, 2024 in state waters;
- Black and Yellowmouth Grouper and Scamp are closed February 1 through March 31 in state waters seaward of the 20-fathom (120 feet) boundary;
- Red Grouper closes June 30, 2024 for the remainder of the year.
Scamp 16 inches minimum total length

Four grouper per person per day in aggregate; the four grouper aggregate is: speckled hind; black, red, snowy, yellowedge, yellowfin, yellowmouth, and warsaw grouper; gag; and scamp. Additional restrictions for the four grouper aggregate:

  • No more than one speckled hind and one warsaw grouper per vessel.
  • No more than two red grouper and two gag per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Open year-round in state waters except February 1 through March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom (120 feet) boundary. Note that there are closed seasons for other grouper species within the four grouper aggregate—gag is closed January 1 through June 30 in state waters; black, red, yellowfin, and yellowmouth grouper are closed February 1 through March 31 in state waters seaward of the 20-fathom (120 feet) boundary.
Goliath and Nassau grouper Take of these species is prohibited.
Grouper
Species Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
Red snapper 16 inches minimum total length 4 fish bag limit Red Snapper season to open May 1
Mutton snapper 18 inches minimum total length
  • Five per person per day within the 10 snapper aggregate; the 10 snapper aggregate is all snappers (gray, mutton, yellowtail, cubera, queen, blackfin, silk, and wenchman) except red, vermilion, and lane snapper.
  • A recreational saltwater angler may possess a two-day limit on a charter vessel or headboat on a multi-day trip if the vessel/headboat has two licensed operators as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips more than 12 hours, and the angler has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel verifying the length of the trip.
 Open year-round in state waters
Queen, blackfin, silk, and wenchman snapper None
  • 10 per person per day within the 10 snapper aggregate; the 10 snapper aggregate is all snappers (gray, mutton, yellowtail, cubera, queen, blackfin, silk, and wenchman) except red, vermilion, and lane snapper. Additional restrictions for the 10 snapper aggregate:
    • No more than five mutton snapper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
  • A recreational saltwater angler may possess a two-day limit on a charter vessel or headboat on a multi-day trip if the vessel/headboat has two licensed operators as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips more than 12 hours, and the angler has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel verifying the length of the trip.
 Open year-round in state waters
Cubera, Gray(mangrove), and yellowtail snapper 12 inches minimum total length
  • 10 per person per day within the 10 snapper aggregate; the 10 snapper aggregate is all snappers (gray, mutton, yellowtail, cubera, queen, blackfin, silk, and wenchman) except red, vermilion, and lane snapper. Additional restrictions for the 10 snapper aggregate:
    • No more than five mutton snapper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
  • A recreational saltwater angler may possess a two-day limit on a charter vessel or headboat on a multi-day trip if the vessel/headboat has two licensed operators as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips more than 12 hours, and the angler has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel verifying the length of the trip.
 Open year-round in state waters
Vermilion snapper 10 inches minimum total length
  • 10 per person per day within the 20 reef fish aggregate; the 20 reef fish aggregate is vermillion and lane snapper, almaco jack, gray triggerfish, and tilefish. Additional restrictions for the 20 reef fish aggregate:
    • No more than one gray triggerfish per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
  • A recreational saltwater angler may possess a two-day limit on a charter vessel or headboat on a multi-day trip if the vessel/headboat has two licensed operators as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips more than 12 hours, and the angler has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel verifying the length of the trip.
 Open year-round in state waters. Note that there are closed seasons for other reef fish species within the 20 reef fish aggregate—gray triggerfish is closed January 1 through the end of February and June 1 through July 31.
Lane snapper 8 inches minimum total length
  • 20 per person per day within the 20 reef fish aggregate; the 20 reef fish aggregate is vermillion and lane snapper, almaco jack, gray triggerfish, and tilefish. Additional restrictions for the 20 reef fish aggregate:
    • No more than one gray triggerfish and 10 vermilion snapper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
  • A recreational saltwater angler may possess a two-day limit on a charter vessel or headboat on a multi-day trip if the vessel/headboat has two licensed operators as required by the U.S. Coast Guard for trips more than 12 hours, and the angler has in possession a receipt issued on behalf of the vessel verifying the length of the trip.
 Open year-round in state waters, or until the annual catch limit is projected to be met. Note that there are closed seasons for other reef fish species within the 20 reef fish aggregate—gray triggerfish is closed January 1 through the end of February and June 1 through July 31.
Snapper
Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
None

20 per person per day within the 20 reef fish aggregate; the 20 reef fish aggregate is vermillion and lane snapper, almaco jack, gray triggerfish, and tilefish. Additional restrictions for the 20 reef fish aggregate:

  • No more than one gray triggerfish and 10 vermilion snapper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Open year-round in state waters. Note that there are closed seasons for other reef fish species within the 20 reef fish aggregate—gray triggerfish is closed January 1 through the end of February and June 1 through July 31.
Almaco jack
Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
15 inches minimum fork length

One per person per day within the 20 reef fish aggregate; the 20 reef fish aggregate is vermillion and lane snapper, almaco jack, gray triggerfish, and tilefish. Additional restrictions for the 20 reef fish aggregate:

  • No more than 10 vermilion snapper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Closed January 1 through end of February; open March 1 through May 31; closed June 1 through July 31; open September 1 through December 31, or until the annual quota is met or projected to be met
Gray triggerfish
Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
None

20 per person per day within the 20 reef fish aggregate; the 20 reef fish aggregate is vermillion and lane snapper, almaco jack, gray triggerfish, and tilefish. Additional restrictions for the 20 reef fish aggregate:

  • No more than one gray triggerfish and 10 vermilion snapper per person per day within the aggregate bag limit.
 Open year-round in state waters. Note that there are closed seasons for other reef fish species within the 20 reef fish aggregate—gray triggerfish is closed January 1 through the end of February and June 1 through July 31.
Tilefish (goldface, blackline, anchor and blueline)
Species Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
Greater amberjack 34 inches minimum fork length One per person per day Opens September 1 and Closes October 31
Lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish 14 to 22-inch fork length slot limit Five fish per person per day, combined total between lesser amberjack and banded rudderfish Open year-round in state waters
Amberjack
Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
14 inches minimum fork length Five per person per day Open year-round in state waters
Hogfish
Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
None None Open year-round in state waters
Black seabass
Size Limit Bag and Possession Limit Season
18 inches minimum total length Five per person per day Open year-round in state waters
Tripletail

 

40925174821268
Was this article helpful?
0 out of 0 found this helpful
Didn't find what you were looking for? Submit a request
Powered by Zendesk