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Red snapper Regulations in Louisiana (2026)

Recreational red snapper rules in Louisiana saltwater, as published by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Size limit
16 inches minimum total length
Bag limit
4 fish bag limit
Season
LDWF: Closed | 2026 Declarations of Emergency (2603EMR013…

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Recreational Red snapper rules in Louisiana

Where
Statewide
Size limit
16 inches minimum total length
Bag limit
4 fish bag limit
Possession
4 fish bag limit
Season
LDWF: Closed | 2026 Declarations of Emergency (2603EMR013, 2606EMR002, 2607EMR003, 2608EMR045, 2609EMR013): The season for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in state waters and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana shall be open daily beginning on Friday, May 1, 2026. The bag and possession limit for private recreational and state charter anglers harvesting red snapper shall be four fish per day per person. Size limits shall remain at the currently established minimum size limit in LAC 76:VII.335 of 16 inches total length. The season shall remain open as described until further notice or December 31, 2026, at which time it shall close. This modification does not apply to federally permitted charter boats operating under federal law during federally established seasons and under federally established rules for those vessels. | The bag limit for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall be five fish for the weekend of Memorial Day from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026, at which time it will revert back to four fish per person until further notice. | The bag limit for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall be five fish for the weekend of Independence Day from 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at which time it will revert back to four fish per person until further notice. | The season for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall close at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2026 and shall remain closed until further notice. Effective with this closure, no person shall recreationally harvest or possess red snapper whether within or without Louisiana waters. | The season for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall re-open at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. on August 30, 2026 at which time it shall close. The season shall re-open again from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026 at which time it shall close until further notice. Size and bag limits shall remain at the currently established four fish per day per person and a minimum size limit of 16 inches. Effective with this closure, no person shall recreationally harvest or possess red snapper whether within or without Louisiana waters.

Official source

Commercial rules

Show 1 commercial rule
Where
Statewide
Size limit
13 inches total length (Commercial) — 16 inches total length (Recreational) 13 inches total length (Commercial)
Bag limit
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.
Season
Year-round
  • 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.
  • 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 America 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 America Reef Fish and the applicable federal Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) vessel account.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • LDWF Commercial Saltwater Finfish Seasons (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/commercial-saltwater-finfish-seasons): Snapper — Year-round

Official source

Quick answers

What is the red snapper size limit in Louisiana?

16 inches minimum total length.

How many red snapper can I keep in Louisiana?

4 fish bag limit.

When is red snapper season in Louisiana?

LDWF: Closed | 2026 Declarations of Emergency (2603EMR013, 2606EMR002, 2607EMR003, 2608EMR045, 2609EMR013): The season for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in state waters and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana shall be open daily beginning on Friday, May 1, 2026. The bag and possession limit for private recreational and state charter anglers harvesting red snapper shall be four fish per day per person. Size limits shall remain at the currently established minimum size limit in LAC 76:VII.335 of 16 inches total length. The season shall remain open as described until further notice or December 31, 2026, at which time it shall close. This modification does not apply to federally permitted charter boats operating under federal law during federally established seasons and under federally established rules for those vessels. | The bag limit for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall be five fish for the weekend of Memorial Day from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2026, at which time it will revert back to four fish per person until further notice. | The bag limit for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall be five fish for the weekend of Independence Day from 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at which time it will revert back to four fish per person until further notice. | The season for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall close at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2026 and shall remain closed until further notice. Effective with this closure, no person shall recreationally harvest or possess red snapper whether within or without Louisiana waters. | The season for the private recreational and state charter harvest of red snapper in Louisiana state waters and federal waters off Louisiana shall re-open at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. on August 30, 2026 at which time it shall close. The season shall re-open again from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026 at which time it shall close until further notice. Size and bag limits shall remain at the currently established four fish per day per person and a minimum size limit of 16 inches. Effective with this closure, no person shall recreationally harvest or possess red snapper whether within or without Louisiana waters.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

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More reef fish 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.