UPDATES
6/17/26
LDWF Update: Special Bait Dealer’s Permit Gear Rule
LDWF News recently posted an update regarding the Special Bait Dealer’s Permit and the continued use of larger permitted gear during closed shrimp seasons.
On June 2, 2026, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a Notice of Intent to amend the Special Bait Dealer’s Permit. The proposed rule would remove the sunset provision from the current regulation and establish the currently permitted larger commercial fishing gear as part of the rule for fishermen operating under a valid Special Bait Dealer’s Permit issued by LDWF.
This is not a new permit. It is a proposed update to the existing Special Bait Dealer’s Permit rules.
The larger gear allowance was previously put in place to allow live bait to continue being harvested during closed shrimp seasons. This helps recreational fishermen maintain access to live bait and allows live bait businesses to continue operating without interruption.
LDWF states that the use of this expanded gear was evaluated, with no indication of negative impacts on the resource or industry.
The proposed rule would establish the currently permitted commercial gear, including:
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One trawl not to exceed 50 feet along the cork line and 66 feet along the lead line, with the required mesh sizes listed by LDWF.
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Double skimmer nets with an opening circumference of no more than 72 feet for each net and a maximum lead line length of 33 feet, with the required frame and mesh restrictions listed by LDWF.
This appears to be a positive step for Louisiana’s live bait industry, helping maintain legal access to live bait during closed shrimp seasons without interruption.
Public comment is still open. Anyone interested in submitting support or comments on the proposed rule should do so prior to July 28, 2026.
Written comments may be submitted to:
Konner Lockfield
Marine Fisheries Biologist DCL-B
Marine Fisheries Section
2045 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 403
New Orleans, LA 70122
Email: klockfield@wlf.la.gov
A copy of the full LDWF notice can be viewed here:
https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/news/lwfc-adopts-notice-of-intent-to-modify-permitted-gear-for-the-special-bait-dealers-permit
The Gulf Coast Live Bait Association supports efforts that help keep Louisiana’s live bait supply available, legal, and reliable for fishermen, dealers, marinas, and the recreational fishing public.
6/4/25
LWFC Adopts Notice of Intent to Modify the Special Bait Dealer’s Permit
Rene LeBreton, Baton Rouge:
Today, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a notice of intent (NOI) to amend the existing permit rules to allow the sale of live bait from the vessels of fishermen operating under a special bait permit if those fishermen also possess a fresh product license or wholesale/retail seafood dealer license. Additionally, the fisherman must have a signed trip ticket that records the total amount of bait harvested for the entire trip.
This will give fishermen more convenient access to live bait during closed shrimping seasons.
Persons interested in providing public comment should do so by September 1, 2025, to Robert Bourgeois, LDWF Fisheries Permit Manager, P.O. Box 98000, Baton Rouge, LA 70898, or via email to rbourgeois@wlf.la.gov.
A copy of the NOI with additional details regarding special bait permit requirements may be viewed at: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Commission_Action_Items/Special-Bait-Dealers-Permit-NOI-062025.pdf
5/22/22
The Gulf Coast Live Bait Association was recently featured in an article by the "Voice of the Gulf", The Gulf Seafood Foundation. Check out the article on their Newsroom website linked below.
5/6/22
The GCLBA has been working directly with the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition post Hurricane Ida as a liaison to the Live Bait Industry. After surveying roughly 40 sites we have compiled enough data to conclude that close to 80% of the bait shops have been either severely damaged or wiped out. As a part of the coalition we have been helping craft a document outlining the needs of our local fisheries and together a White Paper has been formed. This document will be used to lobby for recovery dollars to address everything from pulling debris from water ways, fuel subsidies, and because of us and our working together, money for replacing lost or damaged live bait holding equipment as well as money for upgrading our infrastructure towards hardening and portability of equipment for evacuation,
Listed below are the Recovery Coalition's White Paper as well as a supporting document we crafted outlining the costs of bait specific infrastructure investments.
LFCRC White Paper
GCLBA Live Bait Infrastructure Investment doc
11/10/21
If you have a live bait holding operation in Louisiana and you have been affected by Ida or any other hurricane in 2020 and 2021, please take the time to fill out this survey. It’s completely anonymous and critical that we understand the true costs of these storms so that we may have hard data to back us up when we ask for relief money from Washington. We’ve been working hand in hand with LSU Ag, Louisiana Seagrant, and as a member of the Louisiana Fishing Community Recovery Coalition to make sure the live bait industry has not been overlooked or left in a dysfunctional grey area this time around and we need YOUR support.
This survey will ask for location data so that it can show connection between storm path and damage impact, but it is still anonymous and will not be used to identify you