Red Snapper regulations
Louisiana · Curated reference from cited public sources · listings, not permission to fish or retain a catch · This selected Louisiana saltwater reference subset is not a complete rulebook.
SPECIES LINKS
FIELD GUIDE
Lutjanus campechanus
speciesBASICThe northern red snapper, native to the western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, inhabiting reef-associated environments. Long-lived, with an oldest reported age over 57 years.
HABITAT
Reef-associated environments of the western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico.
SIZE
common 60 cm (24 in); up to 100 cm
TEXT CONDENSED FROM WIKIPEDIA, AVAILABLE UNDER CC BY-SA 4.0
Red Snapper identification is educational; species identification does not establish legal applicability for Louisiana.
- LAST LISTED/REFERENCE LIMITS
- Four-fish bag limit while the season is open; LDWF's Aug. 7 emergency notice closes the private recreational season in state and federal waters after 11:59 p.m. Aug. 9, 2026. · minimum 16 inches
- LISTED SEASON WINDOWS
- May 1, 2026 through Aug 9, 2026 · 4 fish listed
- Aug 10, 2026 through Aug 31, 2026 · 0 fish listed
- APPLICABILITY
- Sixteen-inch minimum total length. The general LDWF page says open May 1 until further notice; the dated emergency notice controls the Aug. 9 closure and only states a possible quota-dependent reopening before Labor Day, so no future window is fabricated.
- SOURCE AUTHORITY
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Recreational Saltwater Finfish — Red Snapper, plus Aug. 7, 2026 emergency closure notice
UPDATED August 7, 2026 · CHECKED Aug 17, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC · EFFECTIVE YEAR 2026
LDWF recreational fishing regulations ↗The LDWF page is an informational summary; the applicable state statutes and emergency orders are authoritative.
LAUNCH SITES
Curated launch sites in Louisiana (1)
This reference does not grant permission to fish or retain a catch. Location, method, vessel, species identification, and emergency closures can change what applies. Verify the applicable official rules.