Louisiana state waters, out to 3 miles
LDWF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Same rule
The same size, bag and season past the 3-mile line, written by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
King mackerelLateral line drops sharply mid-body; spots fade with size. Tell them apart
False albacoreWavy worm-lines on the back, no spots. Tell them apartNot listed by Louisiana: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep 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
Gold-bronze spots on the flanks, no lateral-line dip, black front dorsal patch; smaller than a king. More on the Spanish mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spanish mackerel in other states14 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Spanish mackerel in Louisiana?
12 in fork length. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many Spanish mackerel can you keep in Louisiana?
15 per person.
When is Spanish mackerel season in Louisiana?
Open year-round.
What is the Louisiana record Spanish mackerel?
10.56 lb (1972).
How current is this Louisiana Spanish mackerel 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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