What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Pontchartrain?

Lake Pontchartrain carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Louisiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Red drum (redfish) and Spotted seatrout (speckled trout). One of them reads: "Brackish/saltwater estuary — saltwater Recreational Licence required; speckled trout 13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in); redfish 18–27 in slot, 4 / day, none over 27 in; flounder + sheepshead + tripletail." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Pontchartrain?

Yes. Lake Pontchartrain is in Louisiana, so a valid Louisiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Pontchartrain; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Louisiana rules.

Do Lake Pontchartrain's special rules replace Louisiana's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Louisiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Pontchartrain by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Lake Pontchartrain?

Red drum (redfish) and Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Pontchartrain, each linking to its full Louisiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Louisiana limits.

2026 regulation year

Lake Pontchartrain 2026 — Louisiana Fishing Regulations

Louisiana statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Lake Pontchartrain carries 3 special-regulation overlays on top of Louisiana's 2026 fishing rules — covering Red drum (redfish), Spotted seatrout (speckled trout). Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Brackish/saltwater estuary — saltwater Recreational Licence required; speckled trout 13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in); redfish 18–27 in slot, 4 / day, none over 27 in; flounder + sheepshead + tripletail
Source: Louisiana special-water list

Per-species rules on Lake Pontchartrain

Red drum (redfish) regulations →
18–27 slot, 4 / day, none over 27 in
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) regulations →
13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in)

Official source

Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries publishes the authoritative 2026 Louisiana fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Louisiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries's emergency-order feed — check it before any Louisiana trip during the active season.

Emergency orders →

Other special-regulation waters in Louisiana

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Lake Pontchartrain?: Lake Pontchartrain carries 3 special-regulation overlays that override Louisiana's statewide 2026 rules, covering Red drum (redfish) and Spotted seatrout (speckled trout). One of them reads: "Brackish/saltwater estuary — saltwater Recreational Licence required; speckled trout 13–20 in slot, 15 / day (2 over 20 in); redfish 18–27 in slot, 4 / day, none over 27 in; flounder + sheepshead + tripletail." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Lake Pontchartrain?: Yes. Lake Pontchartrain is in Louisiana, so a valid Louisiana fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Lake Pontchartrain; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Louisiana rules.
Do Lake Pontchartrain's special rules replace Louisiana's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Louisiana's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Lake Pontchartrain by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Lake Pontchartrain?: Red drum (redfish) and Spotted seatrout (speckled trout) have a water-body-specific rule on Lake Pontchartrain, each linking to its full Louisiana regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Louisiana limits.

← Back to Louisiana regulations overview