2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 56 - Wildlife and Fisheries
RS 56:302.1 - Annual license; temporary license; fees; saltwater fee; exemptions

§302.1. Annual license; temporary license; fees; saltwater fee; exemptions

A. The cost of the annual basic recreational fishing license is nine dollars and fifty cents for residents and sixty dollars for nonresidents, except that residents using a rod or fishing pole, hook and line, without a reel and without using artificial bait shall pay two dollars and fifty cents per year; however, any person required by this Part to possess a basic two dollars and fifty cents license shall be subject to a maximum fine of five dollars for not possessing the license as herein required, and there shall be no court costs associated with the fine.

B.(1) In lieu of the basic recreational fishing license, nonresidents may purchase a temporary basic recreational freshwater fishing license for a fee of five dollars per day.

(2) The revenues generated from the license fee imposed under this Subsection shall be deposited in the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund and shall be dedicated exclusively to the operation of the enforcement division.

C.(1)(a) In addition to the annual basic recreational fishing license, any person fishing in the saltwater areas of the state defined in R.S. 56:322 must purchase a saltwater license. The fee for the annual saltwater license is five dollars and fifty cents for residents and thirty dollars for nonresidents. As a condition of the application for and the granting of the saltwater license, all saltwater finfish caught or transported by the license holder while the license is in effect are presumed to have been taken in the waters of Louisiana.

(b) In lieu of purchase of an annual basic recreational fishing license and an annual saltwater license, a nonresident may purchase a temporary saltwater license valid for the number of days specified by the purchaser at a fee of seventeen dollars and fifty cents per day. Such license shall enable the nonresident to fish in the saltwater areas of the state for the period of time indicated on the license.

(c) Between June 1, 2014, and May 31, 2018, in addition to the fee required by Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph for purchase of a saltwater fishing license, there shall be an additional fee of seven dollars and fifty cents to be paid for each license purchased by a resident that shall be credited to the Saltwater Fish Research and Conservation Fund, R.S. 56:10(B)(1)(g).

(2)(a) Repealed by Acts 2009, No. 22, §2, eff. June 12, 2009.

(b) A person fishing with a licensed charter guide on board the vessel may purchase a charter passenger fishing trip license at a fee of five dollars. Such license shall be valid for three consecutive days.

(c) In addition to the fee contained in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, a person fishing with a licensed charter guide on board the vessel shall pay a five dollar fee which shall be deposited into the Conservation Fund as provided in R.S. 56:10(B)(1)(f), and which shall be used by the department for promotion of the charter boat industry, protection of the fishery, and to provide for administrative costs of the fund. Such fees are to be expended for such purposes through the Louisiana Charter Boat Association.

(d)(i) A resident who is totally and permanently disabled and receiving a disability benefit from the federal social security system or a disability retirement income from a retirement system whose members are exempt from federal social security, either pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Insurance Act, 45 U.S.C. §231, or because they are employees of a state or a political subdivision of the state that has not voluntarily agreed to participate in federal social security under 42 U.S.C. §418, may purchase a basic recreational fishing license for a fee of two dollars and fifty cents and a saltwater license for a fee of two dollars and fifty cents.

(ii) A letter from the federal social security administration or retirement system granting disability benefits shall be required at time of purchase, along with proper identification. Such letter shall be evidence of qualification for the reduced fee provided for in this Subparagraph.

(3) The saltwater license is not required for residents possessing a two dollars and fifty cents basic recreational fishing license and using only a rod or fishing pole, hook and line, without a reel and without using artificial bait.

(4) The saltwater license must be purchased and the fee paid irrespective of any agreement or provision of law not specifically waiving the license or fee. The required saltwater angling license shall not preclude a person from fishing for freshwater species of fish south of the designated saltwater line described in R.S. 56:322(A) or in saltwater lakes and bodies of water designated in R.S. 56:322(B). A person may take or possess in such designated saltwater areas, without a saltwater angling license, any freshwater species of fish in any number not otherwise prohibited by law, provided the person possesses a valid fishing license as otherwise required by law. For the purpose of enforcement, the department shall determine by rule which species of fish shall be classified as a freshwater species and which shall be classified as a saltwater species. Any person, without a valid saltwater angling license, that takes a saltwater species of fish as classified by the department from a designated saltwater area shall return such fish immediately to the waters from which taken without avoidable injury. An enforcement agent or officer of the department may inspect a fisherman's catch to insure compliance with this Paragraph.

D. Repealed by Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 1, §4, eff. June 26, 2000.

E. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Subpart to the contrary, the department may allow a recognized nonprofit rehabilitation program, upon written request to the department, to purchase recreational fishing permits in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) A recognized nonprofit rehabilitation program designed to assist an individual in an alcohol or substance abuse program may apply to the department in order to purchase residential recreational fishing permits.

(2) The permits purchased may be similar to either the basic recreational fishing license or the basic saltwater license.

(3) The permits shall be issued in the name of the recognized nonprofit rehabilitation program only and not in any individual's name.

(4) The permits shall be used for rehabilitative purposes only and may not be transferred between rehabilitation programs.

(5) The secretary may promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection.

F.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Subpart to the contrary, any resident of this state who has an intellectual or developmental disability and who is engaged in recreational fishing as part of approved therapy and habilitation service, and who is fishing under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or employed by a hospital, residence, community home, school, or other facility licensed by the Department of Health and Hospitals in the care or rehabilitation of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities shall be exempt from the licensing requirements and fees applicable to recreational fishing license fees.

(2) The department shall issue permits to a licensed hospital, residence, community home, school, or other facility upon written request of such facility. The permits shall be issued in the name of the facility and shall be used only for purposes of approved therapy and habilitation services and shall not be transferrable to any other facility.

(3) The permits shall authorize persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities to engage in recreational fishing as part of approved therapy and habilitation services while under the immediate supervision of personnel approved or employed by the facility.

(4) The person with an intellectual or developmental disability engaged in recreational fishing as provided in this Subsection and the supervisory personnel shall carry an authorization tag or other type of identification approved by the department.

(5) For purposes of this Subsection, the terms "intellectual disability" and "developmental disability" shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Developmental Disability Law (R.S. 28:451.1 et seq.).

(6) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of the provisions of this Subsection.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in order to hunt or fish in the state of Louisiana, a resident of this state who turns sixty years of age on or after June 1, 2000, shall be required to obtain a senior hunting and fishing license. However, any resident who turned sixty years of age prior to June 1, 2000, may choose to purchase a senior hunting and fishing license. A fee of five dollars shall be charged for this license, and the license shall be available from June first of each calendar year and shall be valid from the date of purchase through the following June thirtieth. This license shall be in lieu of basic hunting, big game, bow, and primitive firearms licenses, waterfowl and turkey hunting stamps, and the basic and saltwater fishing licenses, and must be in the possession of the licensee when the licensee is engaged in hunting or fishing activities.

H. Any person who is not a resident of the state of Louisiana but who is a full-time student enrolled in an accredited college or university that has a physical campus in the state of Louisiana may purchase a nonresident basic fishing license for the cost of a resident fishing license as provided in this Section. In addition, a saltwater fishing license may also be purchased for the cost of a resident saltwater license. In order to purchase a license under the provisions of this Subsection, the person shall provide to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries verification of his full-time status. Such verification may be provided through the mail. Any person fishing under a license issued pursuant to this Subsection shall also have on his person his student identification card which indicates current full-time status.

I. In lieu of a basic recreational fishing license, a nonresident may purchase a nonresident annual black bass tournament fishing license which authorizes the license holder to fish for black bass while participating in an official, registered fishing tournament. Tournament organizers shall register tournaments with the secretary's office at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries headquarters in Baton Rouge. The cost of the license shall be thirty dollars per year and the license shall be valid from July first until June thirtieth of the next calendar year. The license holder shall possess the license and evidence of his participation in a fishing tournament on his person while fishing. The license holder may only possess live black bass which are to be returned to the public waters of Louisiana.

Acts 1986, No. 904, §1; Acts 1989, No. 246, §1, eff. June 26, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 455, §1; Acts 1991, No. 587, §1, eff. July 16, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 874, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 256, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 504, §1; Acts 1995, No. 89, §1; Acts 1995, No. 119, §1, eff. June 12, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 1029, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1039, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1236, §§1, 2; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 1, §§3, 4, eff. June 26, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 19, §1; Acts 2001, No. 324, §1; Acts 2001, No. 448, §1, eff. June 18, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 901, §1; Acts 2003, No. 77, §1; Acts 2008, No. 27, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 51, §1, eff. June 5, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 22, §§1, 2, eff. June 12, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 289, §1; Acts 2013, No. 40, §1; Acts 2014, No. 804, §1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2014, No. 811, §29, eff. June 23, 2014.

NOTE: See Acts 1986, No. 904, §5.