2026 regulation year
Louisiana Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Cynoscion nebulosus
Last updated
Calcasieu Lake ('Big Lake') in Cameron Parish is Louisiana's most-celebrated speckled trout fishery and regularly produces 7+ pound trophy 'sow' trout. The Mississippi River Delta from Venice through Lake Pontchartrain holds strong year-round populations, with peak action in spring and fall. Sabine Lake on the LA/TX boundary, Vermilion + Atchafalaya Bay outflows, and Grand Isle round out the coastal speckled trout footprint. Effective November 2023, after a stock assessment showed spawning-stock biomass at its lowest observed level and overfishing in 6 of the prior 10 years, Louisiana replaced the old 25-fish / 12-inch rule with a 13–20 inch total-length slot and a 15-fish daily bag, of which no more than 2 may exceed 20 inches. The rule is set to sunset January 1, 2028, with LDWF required to deliver an updated stock assessment beforehand — confirm current notices before fishing.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round in saltwater statewide. The 13–20 in slot / 15-fish rule (effective Nov 2023) sunsets Jan 1, 2028 — confirm current LDWF notices before fishing.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 15 / day per angler; no more than 2 over 20 in
- Possession
- Same as daily bag
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 13–20 in slot; up to 2 of the 15 fish may exceed 20 in
- Slot
- 13–20 in slot — keep up to 15, of which no more than 2 may be over 20 in
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; gigs + spears prohibited for spotted seatrout
- Saltwater Licence required (plus the Basic Fishing Licence it adds onto)
- Confirm LDWF notices before fishing — the slot rule sunsets Jan 1, 2028 pending a new stock assessment
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Louisiana waters:
Calcasieu Lake / 'Big Lake'
13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in); trophy 'sow' speckled trout 7+ lb regularly produced
Mississippi River Delta
13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in); world-class inshore fishery
Lake Pontchartrain
13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in)
Sabine Lake
13–20 in slot, 15 / day (LA side); LA/TX reciprocal
Grand Isle + Caminada Pass
13–20 in slot, 15 / day; offshore Gulf-coast inshore mecca
Official source
Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries publishes the authoritative 2026 Louisianafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The spotted seatrout (speckled trout) rules on this page are sourced from Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's official spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulation page.
Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's emergency-order feed — check it before any Louisiana trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is spotted seatrout (speckled trout) season in Louisiana?
- Louisiana keeps spotted seatrout (speckled trout) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Louisiana bag limit for spotted seatrout (speckled trout)?
- The Louisiana daily bag limit for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) is 15 / day per angler; no more than 2 over 20 in. The possession limit is Same as daily bag. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size spotted seatrout (speckled trout) can you keep in Louisiana?
- The Louisiana size rule for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) is 13–20 in slot; up to 2 of the 15 fish may exceed 20 in. Slot limit: 13–20 in slot — keep up to 15, of which no more than 2 may be over 20 in.
- Do you need a license to fish for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) in Louisiana?
- Yes. Louisiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for spotted seatrout (speckled trout), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Louisiana license — compare resident and non-resident Louisiana fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for spotted seatrout (speckled trout) in Louisiana?
- Yes. In Louisiana, spotted seatrout (speckled trout) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; gigs + spears prohibited for spotted seatrout; Saltwater Licence required (plus the Basic Fishing Licence it adds onto); Confirm LDWF notices before fishing — the slot rule sunsets Jan 1, 2028 pending a new stock assessment.
- Do specific Louisiana waters have different spotted seatrout (speckled trout) rules?
- Yes. 5 named Louisiana waters carry rules that override the statewide spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulation, including Calcasieu Lake, Mississippi River Delta, Lake Pontchartrain, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.