Louisiana Fishing License Changes Coming in 2022 Including License Now Needed for all Crabbing

Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have made some changes to hunting and fishing licenses in the state, including a new requirement for a licenses for crabbing.

Two changes that will likely affect the most people include new expiration dates for fishing licences, and the requirement of a fishing license for “string and net” crabbing. Previously, recreational fishing licenses in Louisiana expired on June 30 for most residents. Recreational fishing licenses in Louisiana purchased on or after June 1, 2022, will now be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. A recreational fishing license is also now required for “String and net” crabbing in Louisiana, when previously no license was required. A Hook & Line / Roadside Crabbing license will be available for $5.

Other notable changes to fishing licenses in Louisiana:

Basic freshwater and saltwater license now include all legal means and gear for catching species native to those types of water.

Lifetime licenses are not going away, but are changing in structure and in price. After June 1, 2022, new lifetime licenses will now cost $500 for everyone except seniors 65 or older. The new lifetime license will be a combined recreational hunting, fishing, and gear license, rather than separate lifetime licenses for fishing and hunting. Those already holding a non combination lifetime hunting OR fishing license will continue to have their lifetime licenses privileges, but will not have the combination license privileges. Those who currently hold a Resident Lifetime Hunting AND Fishing Combo License will keep their existing privileges and gain the new gear fees and privileges of legal harvest associated with the Recreational Freshwater License and the Recreational Saltwater License in the new structure.

Follow this link for a full list and more information about Wildlife and Fisheries licenses changes in Louisiana.

This information may change or be updated and should not be taken as legal advice.