Refuge: Laws strictly enforced during fishing season

The fishing season at the Lacassine and Sabine Wildlife Refuges opened Wednesday.

With the opening of the season, which goes on through October 15, state officials want fishermen to know the importance of adhering to local and state laws.

Chuck Talbert, a federal wildlife officer for the Southwest Louisiana Refuge Complex, said following the laws is important for both residents and the environment. He said he and other Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries officers will be in the areas on patrol.

“We will be down there on patrol mainly for boat safety issues,” he said. “There’s gonna be a bunch of people out on boats, so we’ll be checking to make sure people are wearing life jackets because fishermen safety is one the most important issues in these areas.”

Another important regulation for fishermen in this area is the one pertaining to horsepower of boats, Talbert said.

“The main thing need to know about fishing in the Lacassine Pool, where most people will be fishing at the refuge, is that it has a motor restriction,” he said. “It’s a 40 horsepower max, so that motors don’t tear up the vegetation in the marsh areas. We have got to take care of the water bottoms in the refuge.”

Talbert said, in terms of the fish themselves, there is one major regulation to be aware of.

“The main species that folks come down to fish for is bass, so people need to know any size of bass is acceptable but only 10 of them per person,” he said. “Other than that, we go off of state regulations for size and creel, which is the catch limits on fish.”

According to Talbert, there are no exact regulations on how fishermen should treat each other.

“It’s a public area, so everybody is allowed to fish where they please; no one is allowed to set their own parameters,” he said. “As a fisherman myself, I would advise fishermen to just try to respect each others space and don’t be disruptive around others. If people can follow this common sense rule, everyone should be able to fish in harmony.”

Regulations on recreational fishing in Louisiana can be found in the Louisiana Fishing Regulations guide on the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries website.