Greater amberjack Regulations in Louisiana (2026)

Where

Statewide

Size limit

36 inches fork length (Commercial) — 34 inches fork length (Recreational) 36 inches fork length (Commercial)

Bag limit

Trip limit: 1,000 pounds gutted weight

Season

Commercial closed season (LAC 76:VII.335.G.1): March 1-May 31 | Opens January 1; Closed season from March 1 through May 31; Reopens June 1 if quota is still available

• a.Non-stainless Steel Circle Hooks. Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits for reef fish.
• 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 America 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.
• 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. The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is authorized, upon notification to the chairman of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, to adjust any trip limit for any commercially harvested reef fish species or species group when notified by the Regional Administrator of NOAA Fisheries that an adjustment has been made to the trip limit for a species or species group in adjacent federal waters.
• 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.
• LDWF Commercial Saltwater Finfish Seasons (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/commercial-saltwater-finfish-seasons): Greater amberjack — Opens January 1; Closed season from March 1 through May 31; Reopens June 1 if quota is still available
• LDWF Commercial and For-Hire Fishing Regulations (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Regulations/2026-Commercial-Fishing.pdf): *Trip limits may be adjusted in-season. Please see www.gulfcouncil.org for more information. Federal trip limits are 7 fish. State regulation changes have not been enacted at the time of the printing of this document.

Official source