Recreational fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased online or by telephone using Visa or MasterCard. Call toll free 1-888-765-2602. An authorization number for immediate use will be provided and licenses will be mailed to the licensee.
A SERVICE FEE IS CHARGED.
Guides operating charter fishing vessels in saltwater areas of the state must possess a Charter Boat Fishing Guide License. The license is required for resident and non resident guides. A saltwater guide may not possess a spotted seatrout permit.
The annual fee for a resident Charter Boat Fishing Guide License is $250 per vessel for those carrying no more than six passengers and $500 per vessel for boats carrying more than six passengers.
The annual fee for the non resident Charter Boat Fishing Guide License is $1,000 per vessel for those carrying no more than six passengers and $2,000 per vessel for boats carrying more than six passengers.
To qualify for purchase of a Charter Boat Fishing Guide License, the captain of a charter vessel must present his valid captain's license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a valid driver's license or state issued ID, and his Louisiana recreational fishing license. The guide license is valid for one year beginning January 1 of each year.
NEW APPLICANTS MUST APPLY IN PERSON IN THE BATON ROUGE OFFICE ONLY.
RENEWALS MAY BE MAILED IN OR HANDLED IN PERSON AT THE BATON ROUGE LOCATION ONLY.
A ?Mothership License? shall be required for charter fishing operation which does not have a charter boat fishing guide present and consists of a large vessel carrying small skiffs that will be used by no more than two people for fishing purposes. The main motorized vessel shall carry a ?Mothership License? and the captain must have a valid captain's license issued by the United States Coast Guard on his person. For vessels carrying up to six skiffs, the license fee shall be one thousand dollars per year. For those vessels carrying more than six skiffs, the license fee shall be $2,000 per year.
In addition, each skiff is required to have a ?Charter Skiff License? which identifies the charter vessel to which it is attached. A license skiff shall only be used for fishing purposes while the charter vessel with which it is identified is located in Louisiana territorial waters. Each charter skiff license shall be issued for an annual cost of $50 per skiff.
The ?Mothership License? and the ?Charter Skiff License? shall be valid for one year, beginning on January 1st of each calendar year and expiring on December 31 of the same calendar year.
Licensing requirements for individuals fishing under the direction of a mothership operation or a charter guide are listed in the ?Recreational Regulations? pamphlet or on the website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov.
Federal law requires a 6-pak license for any Federally navigable waters and any interstate waters. Toledo Bend is interstate.