Louisiana state waters, out to 3 miles
Charter captains and crew may not retain red drum on charter trips.
LDWF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Harvest and possession prohibited in Gulf federal waters; state rules apply inside state waters.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail spot. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Louisiana state record
LOWA Louisiana State Fish Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red drum in Louisiana?
slot 18–27 in total length. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in Louisiana?
4 per person; none over 27 in.
When is red drum season in Louisiana?
Open year-round.
What is the Louisiana record red drum?
61 lb (1992).
How current is this Louisiana red drum 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.
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