Louisiana has changed its regulations on saltwater fish such as speckled trout and redfish for the first time since 1988. 

On June 20, 2024, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) changed the quantity and length for keeping both red drum (redfish), also referred to as bull reds, and speckled trout (specs) for the state of Louisiana. Prior to June 20, the legal limit and size for redfish was five per person and 16-28 inches, and the legal limit and size for speckled trout was 12 inches and 25 per person.

The new regulations for redfish in Louisiana require redfish to be between 18-28 inches and limit the number of keepable fish to a four-per-person daily limit (increasing the minimum length by 2 inches and decreasing the keepable number by 1).

For speckled trout, the new limits of 13 inches and 15 per person raise the minimum length by 1 inch and decrease the keepable number by 10.

“With the legal size of 13 inches for speckled trout being changed from 12 inches, it is harder to catch more legal fish,” stated Saint Paul’s senior Turner Michel.

These changes will affect fishing guides and their businesses all across South Louisiana. Limits on speckled trout decreased following a four-year debate on what fish Louisiana’s most popular saltwater fish is. New limits on redfish, on the other hand, were a more foreseeable change after speculations that redfish were being overfished. 

Louisiana changed the ban for redfish not to be kept over 27 inches because when they are that size, they have reached spawning age. Bull reds, which is any redfish 27 inches or longer, have tougher filets that make them harder to clean, so typically, they are thrown back anyway. Some people find that bull reds don’t taste as good either.

The redfish population isn’t as strong as before, with Louisiana changing the regulations due to the population weakening and the lack of sexually mature redfish, which are required to maintain the breed across south Louisiana. In other words, supply could not keep up with demand, leading to a change.

While many fishers understand or even agree with the change, some believe LDWF overreacted with the new regulations. Greg Arlt, who has fished all across south Louisiana for over two decades, thinks that fishermen aren’t hurting the redfish and speckled trout populations as much as LDWF thinks.

“I don’t believe recreational fishermen are affecting the population as much as others may believe. There are way too many factors that come into play with why a particular species of fish is thriving or struggling in an estuary. Things like weather and salinity affect the population more so than a weekend warrior with a rod and reel,” Arlt argued.

Changes on redfish: 

• A limit of four fish per day per angler, compared to the current five
• Minimum size of 18 inches, compared to 16 inches currently
• Maximum size of 27 inches. That remains the same, but the current allowance of one over that size will be eliminated
• Charter captains and crews on for-hire trips will not be allowed to keep redfish

Changes on speckled trout:

• Changing the minimum size from 12 inches to 13 inches.
• Establishing a maximum size of 20 inches, with two fish above that limit allowed.
• Reducing the total catch per angler to 15 fish per day rather than 25 fish per day.

Fines for not following the new fishing regulations can add up quickly and catch people off guard. For redfish, fines can reach up to $350 and a maximum of 60 days of jail time or both, plus the fees for a court hearing. Fines of speckled trout include no jail time but up to $350 like redfish and $28.97 per illegal trout per angler in possession of them.

Redfish and speckled trout have many characteristics alike, such as being technically drum fish, spawning in large masses, traveling in schools, and adapting to different salinity levels in the water. 

Although redfish and specs are similar in some ways, they have their differences. Redfish grow over double the size of an average speckled trout. Redfish are stronger and more rigid, which is why they are considered the big brawny cousin of the speckled trout. Speckled trout become sexually mature at 8-10 inches; however, redfish don’t become sexually mature until about 27 inches. 

Todd Masson, who has fished southeast Louisiana for nearly 50 years and hosts the popular Marsh Man Masson YouTube channel, stated, “If we did what was biologically prudent, it may not be politically popular. In fact, certainly in this case, it would not be.”

Louisiana has lost more than 1 million acres of wetlands and barrier shoreline since 1900 as a result of natural processes and human activity. One of the biggest reasons for this land crisis is the strict levee on the Mississippi River. Many argue the Mississippi River has limited the nutrients and freshwater that sustain wildlife and vegetation. The Mississippi has also interrupted the natural processes that built south Louisiana over the past century. 

Hurricanes and tropical storms are another big cause of land loss across south Louisiana. From the mid-19th century to 2023, 57 hurricanes have come across or made landfall in Louisiana. Hurricanes can easily destroy and wash away wetlands, marshes, and swamps. In the past 50 years, over 1,500 square miles of coastal Louisiana have vanished. The land being lost is essential to people as it serves as a blockade for communities and transportation across the state, but also affects wildlife and their habitats. 

Tropical storms and hurricanes raise the salinity levels in the water by pushing water from the Gulf of Mexico into the marshes, which is known as storm surge. Speckled trout seek higher salinity water for spawning. During the Fall, salinity in the water can possibly push speckled trout inshore faster. 

For these reasons, among the regulation changes, many fishermen believe decreasing the limit of keepable speckled trout from 25 to 15 is the most understandable. However, critics argue that a decrease of 10 may have been too drastic, and perhaps a decrease of 5 (allowing for 20 per person per day) would have been more appropriate.

Regardless, fishermen will have to adjust to the new sizes and quantities that they are allowed to keep. The changes have upset some fishermen and may affect their typical fishing spots, but they will have to adapt to the new regulations and hope that the fish population will return to normal.