Louisiana state waters, out to 3 miles
Size54 in fork lengthFork length: snout to the fork of the tail
Bag1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregateCounts toward the Sharks (1 per vessel per trip) aggregate
SeasonOpen year-roundOpen today
Large coastal group.
LDWF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
How to tell it
Barbels, tiny mouth, rounded fins; naps under ledges. More on the nurse shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for nurse shark in Louisiana?
54 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many nurse shark can you keep in Louisiana?
1 shark per vessel per trip in aggregate. Counts toward the Sharks (1 per vessel per trip) aggregate.
When is nurse shark season in Louisiana?
Open year-round.
How current is this Louisiana nurse shark rule?
Source: LDWF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a nurse shark in Louisiana and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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