La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § VII-110

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-110 - Texas Boundary Waters Recreational Creel, Size, and Possession Limits

A. Purpose

1. Pursuant to Louisiana Revised Statute 56:673 and the July 1, 2010 memorandum of understanding between Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and Texas Parks and Wildlife, the commission hereby ratifies and enters into an agreement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to establish uniform and reciprocal regulations for the recreational harvest of freshwater game fish on the waters of the Louisiana-Texas boundary, specifically Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake, and the Sabine River. Those regulations are as follows.

B. Toledo Bend Reservoir

1. The recreational daily creel limit (daily take) for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) is set at eight fish, in aggregate. The minimum total length limit for largemouth bass (M. salmoides) is 14 inches. There is no minimum length limit on spotted bass. For enforcement purposes, a spotted bass shall be defined as a black bass with a tooth patch on its tongue.

2. The daily creel limit for white bass (Morone chrysops) is 25 fish and there is no minimum length limit.

3. There is no limit on the daily take of yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis).

4. The recreational daily creel limit for black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) is set at 25 fish, in the aggregate, and there is no minimum length limit.

5. The recreational daily creel limit for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is set at 50 fish in the aggregate, there is no minimum length limit and not more than 5 fish may exceed 30 inches in total length.

6. The recreational daily creel limit for flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is set at 10 fish. The minimum length limit is 18 inches.

C. Caddo Lake

1. Harvest regulations for black bass (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus) on Caddo Lake are as follows.

a. Largemouth Bass Size Limits-14-18inch slot. A 14-18 inch slot limit means that it is illegal to keep or possess a largemouth bass whose maximum total length is between 14 inches and 18 inches, both measurements inclusive.

b. Spotted Bass Size Limits-no minimum length limit. For enforcement purposes, a spotted bass shall be defined as a black bass with a tooth patch on its tongue.

c. The daily creel limit (daily take) for black bass (Micropterus spp.) is set at 8 fish, in the aggregate, of which no more than 4 largemouth bass may exceed 18 inches maximum total length.

2. The daily creel limit for white bass (Morone chrysops) is 25 fish and there is no minimum length limit.

3. There is no daily creel limit on yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis), and there is no minimum length limit.

4. The recreational daily creel limit for black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) is set at 25 fish, in the aggregate, and there is no minimum length limit.

6. The recreational daily creel limit for flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is set at 10 fish. The minimum length limit is 18 inches.

D. Sabine River

1. Harvest regulations for black basses (largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides and spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus) on the Sabine River are as follows:

a. The river proper from Toledo Bend Dam downstream to the Interstate 10 bridge the minimum length limit for largemouth bass (M. salmoides) is 12 inches.

b. The river proper upstream from Toledo Bend Reservoir to the point at which the entire river enters Texas as marked by state line sign the minimum length limit for largemouth bass (M. salmoides) is 14 inches.

c. The recreational daily creel limit (daily take) for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) is set at eight fish, in aggregate. There is no minimum length limit on spotted bass. For enforcement purposes, a spotted bass shall be defined as a black bass with a tooth patch on its tongue.

2. For purposes of this section, the Sabine River shall be defined as the river proper from the Toledo Bend Dam downstream to the Interstate 10 bridge and the river proper upstream from Toledo Bend Reservoir to the point at which the entire river enters Texas as marked by state line sign.

a. The daily creel limit for striped bass (Morone saxatilis) is set at 5 fish. There is no minimum length limit and only 2 fish may be over 30 inches in total length.

b. The daily creel limit for white bass (Morone chrysops) is 25 fish and there is no minimum length limit.

c. There is no daily creel limit on yellow bass (Morone mississippiensis), and there is no minimum length limit.

d. The recreational daily creel limit for black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) is set at 25 fish, in the aggregate, and there is no minimum length limit.

e. The recreational daily creel limit for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is set at 50 fish in the aggregate, there is no minimum length limit and not more than 5 fish may exceed 30 inches in total length.

f. The recreational daily creel limit for flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is set at 10 fish. The minimum length limit is 18 inches.

E. Daily Possession Limit: Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake, and the Sabine River

1. The following possession limits apply to all persons while on the waters of Toledo Bend Reservoir, Caddo Lake, or the Sabine River. No person shall possess any species of fish in excess of a one day creel limit. No person shall at any time possess in excess of the daily creel limit of any species, except that a two day creel limit may be possessed on the land, if the fish were caught on more than one day and no daily creel limits were exceeded. No person shall possess any fillets of any fish species while on the water.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § VII-110

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 14:548 (August 1988), amended LR 17:278 (March 1991), LR 17:1123 (November 1991), LR 19:790 (June 1993), LR 23:999 (August 1997), LR 31:948 (April 2005), LR 37:2439 (August 2011), LR 40:802 (April 2014), Amended LR 421694 (10/1/2016).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56:6(25)(a), R.S. 56:325(C), R.S. 56:326.3, and R.S. 56:673.