Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 76 - WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
Part VII - Fish and Other Aquatic Life
Chapter 3 - Saltwater Sport and Commercial Fishery
Section VII-331 - Black Drum Size Limits, Daily Take, Possession Limits, and Quotas

1. The daily take and possession limit for black drum caught recreationally within or without Louisiana waters shall be five fish per day and in possession.

2. The minimum legal size for the recreational or commercial taking of black drum shall be 16 inches total length.

3. The maximum legal size for the recreational taking of black drum shall be 27 inches total length; provided however that recreational fishermen shall be allowed to take and possess no more than one black drum per day over 27 inches. It is provided further that commercial harvesters using legal gear shall be allowed to take and possess and sell black drum over 27 inches in unlimited quantities until the annual quota has been met in compliance with all other rules and regulations.

4. The annual commercial quota for 16 to 27-inch black drum shall be 3,250,000 pounds.

5. The annual commercial quota for black drum over 27 inches shall be 300,000 fish.

6. The fishing year for black drum shall begin on September 1, 1990 and every September 1 thereafter.

7. Once the black drum commercial quota(s) has been met, the purchase, barter, trade or sale of black drum taken in Louisiana after the closure is prohibited. The commercial taking or landing of black drum in Louisiana, whether caught within or without the territorial waters of Louisiana after the closure is prohibited. Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to prohibit the possession of fish legally taken prior to the closure order.

8. The Secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall, by public notice, close the commercial fishery(s) for black drum when the quota(s) has been met or is projected to be met. The closure shall not take effect for at least 72 hours after notice to public.