To fish hoop nets commercially in Louisiana, you need two annual state licenses, nets built and tagged to specification, and awareness of a long list of water-specific restrictions. Louisiana’s commercial hoop net fishing regulations are enforced by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), and resident license fees start at $146 before you set a single net. This guide walks through what you need, how your gear must be built, where you can and cannot fish, and what happens when enforcement agents find a problem.
Licenses You Need Before You Set a Net
Two separate licenses are required. The Commercial Fishing License costs $96 for residents and $620 for nonresidents.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. License and Permit Fee List On top of that, the freshwater Commercial Gear License covers any legal number of hoop nets, seines, slat traps, and related gear at $50 for residents. Nonresidents pay four times the resident rate, or $200.2Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 56 – Gear License Both renew annually.
Resident rates require proof of Louisiana residency, and LDWF can deny applications based on past wildlife violations. Commercial fishers also report catch data to the department for population monitoring.
If you plan to sell directly to consumers rather than through a licensed wholesale or retail dealer, add a Fresh Products License: $61 for residents, $300 for nonresidents.3Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:303.1.1 – Fresh Products License Using commercial methods to take finfish without the right license or gear authorization is a class three violation.4Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:320 – Methods of Taking Freshwater or Saltwater Fish Fishing under a recreational license and selling the catch counts as commercial activity without proper authorization.
How Your Hoop Nets Must Be Built and Tagged
Mesh must be at least 1 inch square, or 2 inches stretched, measured after the net has been treated with tar or copper.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2025 Louisiana Commercial and For-Hire Fisheries Rules and Regulations
Every net must carry a waterproof tag showing your commercial fishing license number, attached to the net itself or to a buoy connected to it. The number must be etched, stamped, or printed in indelible ink so it stays legible underwater.6Legal Information Institute. Louisiana Administrative Code Title 76 Section VII-114 – Marking System for Passive Nets and Traps Note the distinction: the tag carries your commercial fishing license number, not your gear license number. Improperly marked or untagged nets are one of the most commonly cited violations.
Wings, Leads, and Where You Can Set Them
Freshwater rules are strict. You can only use wings and leads in overflow areas where water has spread beyond the natural bed of the stream or lake, and even there you must stay at least 500 feet from the bed of the natural stream or lake. Individual leads cannot exceed 25 feet, and no pair of wings or leads can sit within 100 feet of another pair.7Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 56 – Wings and Leads on Hoop Nets You cannot use a hoop net with leads to harvest mullet.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2025 Louisiana Commercial and For-Hire Fisheries Rules and Regulations
In saltwater, hoop nets can be left unattended if attached to a wharf at an inhabitable camp and tagged with an LDWF-issued tag. Hoop nets without leads can be left unattended only when harvesting catfish. You cannot have red drum or spotted seatrout on board any vessel carrying a hoop net in saltwater.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2025 Louisiana Commercial and For-Hire Fisheries Rules and Regulations Monofilament leads or wings are prohibited below the saltwater line.7Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 56 – Wings and Leads on Hoop Nets
Nets must be anchored so they do not obstruct navigation, and the LDWF commission has authority to regulate whether certain nets can be left unattended in specific areas.8Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:320 – Methods of Taking Freshwater or Saltwater Fish Release non-target and protected species immediately.
Waters Where Hoop Nets Are Banned or Restricted
Hoop netting is allowed year-round in most Louisiana waters, but a long list of lakes and waterways either ban the gear outright or impose seasonal closures. A sample of what is in effect:
- Year-round bans: Lake Bartholomew, Cross Lake, Chicot Lake, Lake Bistineau, Anacoco Lake, Lake Vernon, and John K. Kelly-Grand Bayou Reservoir prohibit hoop nets entirely.5Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2025 Louisiana Commercial and For-Hire Fisheries Rules and Regulations
- Seasonal bans: Cypress Lake and Black Bayou Reservoir prohibit hoop nets from March 1 through October 31. Toledo Bend Reservoir bans them from March 1 through May 15 in the portion north of Logansport. Lacassine Bayou prohibits them from March 1 through November 30 within the Lacassine National Refuge portion.
- Permit-required areas: Certain wildlife management areas in the Atchafalaya Basin, including Grassy Lake, Pomme de Terre, and Spring Bayou WMAs, require a separate permit from the LDWF Lafayette Field Office.
The complete list is longer than this, and LDWF updates it each year based on population assessments and environmental conditions. Check the current year’s LDWF commercial fishing regulations booklet for the specific water body before you fish it.
Selling and Transporting Your Catch
If you hold the Fresh Products License and sell directly to consumers, keep detailed transaction records showing what you sold, to whom, and when. Transporting commercially caught fish within Louisiana requires documentation of species, quantity, and point of origin.
Importing game fish for consumption into Louisiana adds another layer. Under RS 56:327, you must notify the LDWF secretary before each shipment arrives and carry a bill of lading listing the species, number of fish, origin, destination, and the names of buyer and seller.9Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:327 – Sale or Purchase of Game Fish
The federal Lacey Act prohibits transporting, selling, or acquiring any fish taken in violation of state or federal law. Felony violations carry up to $20,000 in fines and five years in prison; misdemeanors carry up to $10,000 and one year. Even negligent violations can trigger civil penalties up to $10,000.10U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Lacey Act A state-level violation can become a federal case the moment fish cross state lines.
Penalties and Enforcement
LDWF agents inspect vessels on the water and at landing sites. Officers can board, examine nets for proper tagging and legal mesh, review catch records, and verify your licenses. Refusing access can lead to additional charges.
Violations are classified by severity. A class one violation carries a $50 fine for a first offense, $75 to $250 for a second, and $200 to $550 for third and subsequent offenses.11Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes 56:31 – Class One Violations Higher classifications carry stiffer penalties. In a St. Mary Parish case, an individual cited for fishing without a commercial gear license and failing to tag nets faced fines of $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail per offense. Operating a vessel while under license suspension in the same case carried a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail.12Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. LDWF Agent Cites Subject for Commercial Fishing Violations in St. Mary Parish The agent in that case also seized the illegally caught fish and returned them to the water alive.
Repeat offenders face license revocation and potential permanent bans from commercial fishing in Louisiana. Violations involving protected species or fraudulent sales can rise to felony charges.
Vessel Safety Rules That Still Apply Inland
Commercial fishing vessels on Louisiana waters must meet U.S. Coast Guard safety standards even on inland waterways. Required equipment includes a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device for every person on board, fire extinguishing equipment, navigation lights, sound-producing devices, and communication equipment. Vessels 40 feet or longer face additional requirements for survival craft and immersion suits.13U.S. Coast Guard. Federal Requirements for Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels Missing or unserviceable lifesaving gear, fire equipment, or navigation lights gives the Coast Guard grounds to terminate your voyage on the spot. A small boat running hoop nets on an inland bayou still needs the basics covered.