#LOUISIANA BLUE CRAB LICENSE#

Tags are often available where crab traps are purchased.Ĭrab traps are required to be built with two 2 5/16-inch rigid release rings to release small crabs. One is a 2-inch stainless steel self-locking tag attached to the wire in the center of the trap ceiling.

#LOUISIANA BLUE CRAB LICENSE#

Each crab trap must be marked with a tag bearing the crab trap gear license number. With these licenses a maximum of 10 crab traps may be used. The use of crab traps requires a $15 recreational crab trap gear license, as well as a basic fishing license. The rules for each WMA in the state are different and the rule book for any particular WMA should be consulted before crabbing is done. The use of trotlines requires the purchase of a basic fishing license costing $9.50 per year, unless it is done on a WMA, where a $13 saltwater fishing license is also required. Neither requires a license of any sort unless it is done on a Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wildlife management area.

The least-expensive way to fish for crabs is with a drop net or bait on a string and a dip net. These are female crabs with large orange to brown sponge-like masses of eggs nestled between their belly flaps and their bodies. There is no minimum size for recreationally-caught crabs however, all berry crabs (aka sponge crabs) must be returned to the water immediately after being caught.

The possession limit for recreationally-caught crabs is 12 dozen per person.

Louisiana blue crab