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Prohibited shark and sawfish species Regulations in Louisiana (2026)

Recreational prohibited shark and sawfish species rules in Louisiana saltwater, as published by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Bag limit
No harvest (0)

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Recreational Prohibited shark and sawfish species rules in Louisiana

Where
Statewide
Bag limit
Atlantic angel, Sand Tiger, Dusky, Bigeye, Sixgill, Largetooth Sawfish, Bigeye Thresher, Smalltooth Sawfish, Shortfin Mako, Narrowtooth, Caribbean reef, white*, Caribbean sharpnose, Basking, Sevengill, Galapagos, Bigeye Sixgill, Smalltail, Longfin m=Mako, Bignose, Whale, and Night sharks; *A person may fish for but not retain white shark with rod and reel only under a catch and release program, provided the person releases and returns such fish to the sea immediately with a minimum of injury. Recreational harvest of sandbar and silky sharks (ridgeback sharks) is prohibited.

Official source

Commercial rules

Show 1 commercial rule
Where
Statewide
Bag limit
No person shall take, possess, purchase, sell, barter, exchange or attempt to possess, purchase, sell, barter, or exchange any of the following species or parts thereof: a.basking shark―Cetorhinus maximus;; b.white shark―Carcharodon carcharias;; c.bigeye sand tiger―Odontaspis noronhai;; d.sand tiger―Odontaspis taurus;; e.whale shark―Rhincodon typus;; f.smalltooth sawfish―Pristis pectinata;; g.largetooth sawfish―Pristis pristis;; h.Atlantic angel shark―Squatina dumerili;; i.Caribbean sharpnose shark―Rhizoprionodon porosus;; j.smalltail shark―Carcharhinus porosus;; k.bignose shark―Carcharhinus altimus;; l.Caribbean reef shark―Carcharhinus perezi;; m.dusky shark―Carcharhinus obscurus;; n.Galapagos shark―Carcharhinus galapagensis;; o.narrowtooth shark―Carcharhinus brachyurus;; p.night shark―Carcharhinus signatus;; q.bigeye sixgill shark―Hexanchus vitulus;; r.bigeye thresher shark―Alopias superciliosus;; s.longfin mako shark―Isurus paucus;; t.shortfin mako shark―Isurus oxyrinchus;; u.sevengill shark―Heptranchias perlo;; v.sixgill shark―Hexanchus griseus.
  • K.Prohibited Species

Official source

Quick answers

How many prohibited shark and sawfish species can I keep in Louisiana?

Atlantic angel, Sand Tiger, Dusky, Bigeye, Sixgill, Largetooth Sawfish, Bigeye Thresher, Smalltooth Sawfish, Shortfin Mako, Narrowtooth, Caribbean reef, white*, Caribbean sharpnose, Basking, Sevengill, Galapagos, Bigeye Sixgill, Smalltail, Longfin m=Mako, Bignose, Whale, and Night sharks; *A person may fish for but not retain white shark with rod and reel only under a catch and release program, provided the person releases and returns such fish to the sea immediately with a minimum of injury. Recreational harvest of sandbar and silky sharks (ridgeback sharks) is prohibited..

More other species in Louisiana

All Louisiana saltwater fishing regulations →

Source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Most anglers need a Louisiana saltwater license or registry: get one here.