Spotted seatrout Regulations in Louisiana (2026)

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

Size limit

13” min total length / 20” max total length

Bag limit

15 daily per person with no more than 2 over 20” max total length.

Season

Speckled Trout (PDF), Open year-round in state waters

Can I keep it today? Check your harbor & date

Recreational Spotted seatrout rules in Louisiana

Where: Statewide
Size limit: 13” min total length / 20” max total length
Bag limit: 15 daily per person with no more than 2 over 20” max total length.
Possession: 15 daily per person with no more than 2 over 20” max total length.
Season: Speckled Trout (PDF), Open year-round in state waters

LDWF page lists this species as "Spotted seatrout (speckled trout)".
No harvest of spotted seatrout is allowed for the captain and crew of a vessel under charter (their creel limit/bag limit zero). Captain and crew may engage in fishing to demonstrate fishing for clients but may not harvest any spotted seatrout. Recreational saltwater anglers may possess a two-day’s bag limit on land; however, no person may possess more than the daily bag limit in any one day or while fishing or while on the water, unless that recreational saltwater angler is aboard a trawler engaged in commercial fishing for a consecutive period longer than 25 hours.

Official source

Commercial rules

Show 1 commercial rule

Where: Statewide
Size limit: 14 in. min. total length (LDWF commercial regulations)
Bag limit: 2.The commercial quota for spotted seatrout shall be 1,000,000 pounds for each fishing season.
Season: 1.The commercial season for spotted seatrout whether taken from within or without Louisiana state waters shall remain closed until January 2 of each year, when it shall open and remain open until the maximum annual quota is reached, or on the date projected by the staff of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries that the quota will be reached, whichever comes first. The commercial harvest or taking of spotted seatrout is prohibited during the period from sunset on Friday through sunrise on Monday, and there shall be no possession of spotted seatrout in excess of the recreational limit during the period between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. | The second day of January until the last day of December, or until the quota is reached (whichever comes first); No harvest on weekends (from official sunset on Friday to official sunrise on Monday)

a.The commercial taking of spotted seatrout is prohibited except by special nontransferable Spotted Seatrout Permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. This permit, along with other applicable licenses, authorizes the bearer to sell his spotted seatrout catch.
4.The commercial taking or commercial harvesting of spotted seatrout shall be prohibited within Louisiana waters west of the Mermentau River.
B.General Provisions. The commercial closure shall apply to spotted seatrout taken, landed or possessed on the water whether taken from within or without Louisiana waters. Effective with the closure, no person shall commercially harvest, take, land or possess spotted seatrout in excess of a recreational limit in Louisiana. Effective with the commercial closure no person shall sell, barter, trade, exchange, purchase or attempt to sell, barter, trade, exchange or purchase spotted seatrout. Nothing herein shall prohibit the purchase, sale, barter or exchange of spotted seatrout off the water by licensed commercial dealers taken during any open period or which are legally imported into the state if appropriate records are properly maintained in accordance with R.S. 56:306.5 and R.S. 56:306.6 and those that are required to do so shall be properly licensed in accordance with R.S. 56:303, 56:306 or 56:306.1.
LDWF Commercial Saltwater Finfish Seasons (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/commercial-saltwater-finfish-seasons): Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) — The second day of January until the last day of December, or until the quota is reached (whichever comes first); No harvest on weekends (from official sunset on Friday to official sunrise on Monday)
LDWF Commercial and For-Hire Fishing Regulations (https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Regulations/2026-Commercial-Fishing.pdf): Spotted Seatrout (speckled trout) 14 in. min. total length

Official source

Quick answers

What is the spotted seatrout size limit in Louisiana?

13” min total length / 20” max total length.

How many spotted seatrout can I keep in Louisiana?

15 daily per person with no more than 2 over 20” max total length..

When is spotted seatrout season in Louisiana?

Speckled Trout (PDF), Open year-round in state waters. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

Compare Spotted seatrout limits in other states →

More inshore 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.