Louisiana Bowfishing Permit 2024

In Louisiana, a recreational saltwater bowfishing permit for both the private and charter sectors of the recreational fishery will be required beginning January 1, 2024.

The permit is free of charge and will be valid one year from the date issued. The permit can be obtained only online through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) website.

Individuals 18 years of age or older taking, or attempting to take saltwater recreational fish with bowfishing gear in the waters of Louisiana, or engaging in bowfishing activity below the saltwater line will be required to hold this mandatory permit.

Any person on a charter bowfishing trip, who pays a fee for that trip, is not required to have this permit, but the permit is required for the captain of that charter vessel.

The permit is being implemented in order to effectively manage saltwater recreational species, according to LDWF. 

The free permit can be received by visiting: https://ldwf.wlf.la.gov/bowp

source: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

New Jersey State Record Winter Flounder (Spearfishing Category)

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently announced that Chris Kahler speared a New Jersey state record winter flounder (spearfishing category).

Chris was free diving near a jetty in Manasquan Inlet when he speared the 3 pound, 5 ounce winter flounder which measured 20 inches in length.

In 2014, the NJ Record Fish Program was expanded with the addition of a Spearfishing category for saltwater.

Seventeen (17) species commonly sought after by spear fishers are included in the category.

For more information, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com

NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife

2015 South Carolina Shrimp-baiting Season

The 2015 South Carolina shrimp-baiting season is expected to be a productive one. After a strong spring spawn and a season of good environmental conditions, DNR biologists are optimistic about the fall shrimp season.

“Our crustacean monitoring trips this summer have indicated good numbers of white shrimp in estuarine waters,” said Mel Bell, director of DNR’s Office of Fisheries Management.

South Carolina's 2015 shrimp-baiting season opened on Friday, Sept. 11 and will remain open until noon Tuesday, Nov. 10 in South Carolina waters.

Recreational shrimpers who purchase a shrimp-baiting license can legally cast their nets for shrimp over bait during this season.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) opens the shrimp-baiting season annually on the last Friday on or before Sept. 15 each year. The shrimp-baiting season lasts 60 days.

Post-season mail surveys conducted every year since 1988 indicate that recent total catches have been less than 1 million pounds per season (heads on) after peaking at more than 3.6 million pounds in 1997. Despite the decline in total catch, catch per trip has remained relatively stable, averaging about 20-22 quarts per trip since 2001.

The stable catch-per-trip suggests that shrimp abundance has remained relatively good, but fewer licenses and shrimping trips are resulting in a lower overall harvest. DNR biologists recommend that in general, shrimpers should target areas closer to the ocean to avoid smaller shrimp.

Recreational and commercial shrimpers are encouraged to report catches of tiger shrimp in South Carolina to DNR at tigershrimp@dnr.sc.gov. If possible, reports should include a photograph of the animal along with location and date of capture. Specimens less than 5 inches in length are of particular interest and should be kept frozen prior to donation.

source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

New Jersey State Record Cobia - Spearfishing Category

In August, the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife certified the first entry of a cobia in the spearfishing category of the state record saltwater fish program.

William Maier of Medford, New Jersey, was off Cape May on July 17, 2015 when he speared the record cobia. The fish weighed in at 60 pounds, measuring 56" in length with a girth of 27".

For more information on the Record Fish Program, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com/recfish.htm.

NJ State Record Fluke - Spearfishing Category

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has officially certified the first entry into the new Spearfishing category in the State Record Fish Program. Robert A. Davis of Bamber Lake, New Jersey, speared the state record fluke (summer flounder) on August 4, 2014.

The fish weighed in at 15 pounds 5 ounces which exceeded the set minimum weight of 12 pounds. The fluke is also being recognized as a World Record by the International Underwater Sprearfishing Association (IUSA).

The record-setting fluke was speared near Barnegat Lighthouse in 20 feet of water.

For more information, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com.

source: NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife