Senate Bill No. 203, introduced by Senator Lambert, amends existing regulations regarding the possession limits for recreational fishing in Louisiana, specifically for largemouth bass, spotted bass, red drum, and spotted sea trout taken south of U.S. Highway 90. The bill allows licensed fishermen to possess up to three times the daily take limit of these fish if they can provide a landing receipt from a public boat launch, demonstrating that they have been actively fishing or at a remote camp accessible only by water for at least two days. The fish must be kept whole or whole gutted.

The proposed legislation retains the current law's provisions but removes the requirement for the caught fish to be stored in separate plastic bags or containers marked with specific catch information, such as the date taken, species, number of fish, and the fisherman's name and license number. This change simplifies the regulations for fishermen while maintaining the overall possession limits and conditions. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB203 Original: 56:325(B)(4), 56:1(A)(4)